From Duty to Delight: Denise’s Story of SExual Healing
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By Francie Winslow
What if it’s not too late?
What if there’s more for your marriage than what you’ve experienced so far—more connection, more tenderness, more joy and pleasure, even after decades of disconnection or silence?
In this incredibly moving episode of Female by Design, I sit down with my dear friend Denise, a member of The Circle who bravely shares her story of healing after nearly four decades of marriage. Denise grew up in the church, married young, homeschooled her children, and did all the “right things”—but inside her marriage, especially in the bedroom, she carried deep confusion, disconnection, and even pain.
“I tried to be the good Christian wife. I read all the books, checked all the boxes—but I felt used, angry, and alone. It wasn’t until I started learning about my body and God’s design that everything began to change.”
After hitting menopause, things came to a breaking point. Sex became physically painful, emotionally loaded, and spiritually discouraging. But instead of giving up, Denise began to seek the Lord for healing. And He met her—with truth, tenderness, and a brand-new vision of what intimacy could be.
In this conversation, Denise and I talk about:
The damaging cultural and religious messages that distort sex
How menopause brought years of confusion and pain to the surface
The sacred power of integration—where healing begins in both body and heart
Practical tools that helped her rediscover pleasure and playful intimacy with her husband
Why it’s never too late to experience sexual wholeness in marriage
“We now have a better sex life in our 60s than we did in our 20s. This is what God’s redemption looks like.”
This episode is for every woman who’s wondered if she’s broken, if her marriage is too far gone, or if her body has nothing left to offer. Denise’s story is living proof that healing is possible—even after decades of pain, silence, or misunderstanding. And it starts with understanding God’s heart for your design.
Denise found hope, education, and community through The Circle, my private mentorship group for women who want to grow in sexual wholeness, spiritual depth, and embodied faith. It’s a space for honest conversations, like this one, that have too often been missing from our spiritual formation. If this story resonates with you, I’d love to invite you to join us inside The Circle.
Because friend—your story isn’t over. You were made for joy, connection, and a love that reflects God’s heart. It’s not too late.