Dear Pastor,

I'm having a problem with my husband. It has been three years since I'm married to this man and things were good at first. Since I had a child everything changed. I had to go back to work when the child was six months old because of lack of money. I worked and helped to pay the bills. Now that I'm out of work, not even a pound he would give me. I found out that he is having a relationship with another woman. When I confronted him about it, he said I'm mad. He even told his friends that come to the house every Thursday. He invited them to the house to have dinner.

When I asked him for help towards my daughter's nursery fees, he said he has no money, but every Wednesday he can go the supermarket to buy food to cook up for his friends. He even told me that if this woman he has coming to the house who he introduced to me as his friend can't come, I should leave because he knew her long before me.

Pastor, the story is long so I will have to cut it in pieces. He is filing for me and I honestly believe the reason why he is behaving like that is because his female friend is influencing him. As soon as we have an argument, she is there to give him advice. He is threatening me that he is going to file for full custody of the child and let them send me home. I told him that if I go home I'm not going to be hungry because I have my mom there to help me. I can't have any friends to come to look for me. All I have to do is read my Bible to get comfort and piece of mind. I know God is going to give me my reward sooner or later.

Please, pray for me.

M. B., London, England

Dear M. B.,

This man fails to understand that you can fight back. Right now you are supporting yourself, but he believes that because you do not have permanent status, he can treat you badly. You need to see an attorney-at-law and the attorney will tell you what your rights are and put this man in his place.

Too many women panic when they are in similar situations like yours, but you need not panic. You ought to stand up for your rights. So accept my suggestion and go and see an attorney-at-law.

Pastor