How does an emotionally stunted husband interact in a relationship? What are the signs, actions, and thoughts? Here are a few indicators.

These men are not curious. They ask few questions. And they have no interest in exploring emotional thoughts or feelings. Many of these men have answers. They love telling you what to do. Not having an answer, makes them feel nervous and uncomfortable.

Emotional language, struggles, and weaknesses create discomfort. Emotional language sounds sloppy and confusing. So it is to be avoided. These individuals do not like feelings. They don’t like their own feelings. When you talk about feelings, they wonder why you don’t just ignore yours also?

When a situation turns emotional, they disengage. They want nothing to do with emotional conversations. A person who is being emotional is interpreted as a person out of control. And lack of control usually means pain is about to be inflicted.

They want things to be easy, quick, and fast. Shallow is good. Deep is bad. They have no patience to explore emotions or emotional issues.

There is no awareness that all emotional conversations are really about the other person. He does not understand the major role of the listener is to listen and walk alongside the speaker.

They do not trust the process. The process states, if you just listen to a person it creates a 50% improvement in their mood. Because mostly, a wife just wants to be heard.

He does not understand that big questions don’t have good answers. Big questions are God questions. “Why did this happen to me?”

Closing

Emotionally healthy men understand listening is an important part of the growth process. And since a husband cannot solve many of his wife’s struggles, they understand. All she really wants is empathy and comfort.

Prayer

Father, thank you for making me a spiritual and emotional being. I am yours. Thank you for accepting me and loving me just as I am. I need help. Emotions and relationships are hard to understand. But they do not confuse you. Please keep walking with me and teaching me spiritual and emotional principles. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Connection

The apostle Paul was living with a spiritual and emotional battle. Read about it in Romans 7:14-20b