Episode 125: Finding Hope When Facing Addiction in Your Marriage—with Julie Sanford
Every week, we hear from wives who are quietly carrying the weight of a husband’s alcohol addiction.
“I am hoping and praying that he gets healed and that his addiction doesn’t kill him.”
“I have anxiety. I have fear. I feel stuck.”
“Too many times I have felt hopeless and have wanted to be dead so I wouldn’t feel this pain.”
“Hopefully my marriage will turn out for God’s glory.”
These words reflect the deep pain many women experience behind closed doors. Loving someone who struggles with addiction can leave you exhausted, confused, and wondering where God is in the middle of it all.
That is why we are so grateful for today’s guest.
Julie Sanford is a wife and mom of three who never imagined she would one day be married to an alcoholic. After walking through the long and difficult road toward her husband’s sobriety, she now comes alongside other Christian wives facing similar battles. Julie is a recovery mentor and the host of the Married to Addiction podcast, where she offers practical tools and biblical encouragement for marriages impacted by addiction.
In this episode, Julie shares:
- Common misconceptions wives often believe about their husband’s alcohol addiction
- Why shifting from “fixing him” to caring for yourself is a crucial step toward healing
- The importance of understanding what addiction truly is, and what it is not
- And much more!
We hope this conversation brings clarity and hope to your heart.
Links:
Our Takeaways:
1) You did not cause his addiction, and you cannot fix it. Addiction creates chemical changes in the brain that cause alcohol to feel like a basic survival need. Recognizing that you did not cause it, cannot control it, and cannot change him is an essential step in your own healing journey.
2) Getting help for yourself is not optional. Living with addiction takes a deeper toll than many realize. Learning healthy tools to regulate your emotions and establish boundaries helps protect both you and your children. Online groups can be a safe starting place, but over time, it is important to build a support system in your daily life.
3) “Do I stay or do I leave?” is a deeply personal question. If you are in an unsafe or abusive situation, your first priority is safety and stability. Beyond that, each woman must seek the Lord’s wisdom for her own path. Some women stay. Some women leave. But no matter what your story holds, you can trust that God sees you and has a good plan for your life, regardless of your husband’s sobriety or the state of your marriage.
Meet Our Guest
Julie Sanford is a Christian wife and recovery mentor who has personally walked the painful road of loving someone with a drinking problem. Through years of lived experience, biblical truth, and recovery principles, she created Married to Addiction, a dedicated space for Christian women married to alcoholics. Grounded in Scripture and compassion, Julie’s mission is to remind women that God sees them, loves them, and is still at work even in the chaos. She is passionate about helping women find peace, clarity, healing, and a faithful way forward.
