One of the purposes of marriage according to 1 Cor 7 is to help in the avoidance of sexual immorality.

Both my wife and I will struggle with this issue without sexual release.

Is it right that I deny her a partner by staying with her, if I can't do the job... just for the sake of the contract?

When does a marriage cease to be a biblically functional marriage and become something people do to maintain the appearance of a marriage?

I know there are no easy answers to these questions. Obviously many married couples have lost or forsaken sexual relations but still have believed themselves to be married. But God gave marriage for a purpose and sex is definitely high on that agenda.

I also don't believe that concentrating on serving God first will make abstainance easier. If serving God could cure sex drive there would be little need for Christians to get married at all and 1 Cor 7, which encourages the single life so that one may better serve God would be moot.

I pray constantly "not my will but Your's be done Lord"
and I do believe, from Scripture, that God's will is for me to stay married.
My dilemma comes from my apparent inability to DO what I believe God is wanting me to do. Or to at least be able to do it without a truck load of anxiety and stress and feeling sick :S

I appreciate the comments
Blessings as always,
Cat.