Ben HigginsandJessica Clarke Higginsmade a crucial decision in their relationship that ultimately strengthened their bond before marriage.During an appearance on theTalking It Outpodcast, the season 20Bachelorstar opened up about how the couple “successfully accomplished” their “mission” to abstain from pre-marital sex. Ben, 33, also explained how this journey made them stronger.“There’s multiple angles to why that decision was made, right,” he began. “I think people hear it from the outside and they assume it was strictly a faith decision. A religious decision might be the better way to explain that. It wasn’t solely that.““We both believe in Jesus. That is something that is at the foundation [and] the corner of our life. It is what we try to have everything come out of,” he continued. “We also, because of that, do believe that sex is sacred. We believe it is something very powerful. Something very important to consider and hold dear, to talk about, to express. We also believe it’s an awesome thing. It’s a gift.“David Becker/GettyWhile Ben had engaged in that level of physical intimacy prior to their marriage, Jessica, 26, had not. This led to a conversation between the couple to decide how they would proceeded forward.“We both talked it out and said, ‘What is the wise thing to do here for us?'” he said. “It was, ‘Hey, you’ve worked so hard to keep this moment special for you and I have had failed relationships where that has been a part of my life. And so, let’s try. Like, let’s see what happens there because we have a whole life together.'“But that plan had its challenges, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Ben said the couple, whogot engagedin March 2020, “didn’t think COVID was going to shut down our wedding.““So the question was what came of that? … It wasn’t easy. So it forced us to grow stronger together in our commitment to each other,” he continued. “It also got us really excited for when we did get married. There was something very special there. Something that we were going to work through as a married couple when we had already committed our lives to each other.“RELATED VIDEO: Ben Higgins and Jessica Clarke Share Details About Their “Simple and Elegant” Wedding CeremonyAdded Ben, “Finally, I think there was a level, too, where because that physical part of our relationship was not an option, it forced us and allowed us to communicate with our words a lot easier. So we talked things out.“Ben also said he would “very much push against” not abstaining from pre-marital sex in a committed relationship, though “it was right” for his own bond with Jessica. “I think it was a healthy decision,” he noted.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Ben and Jessicatied the knotin November atThe Estate in Cherokee Docknear Nashville, Tennessee.As their relationship continues to progress, welcoming children together isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Ben previously toldEntertainment Tonight: “It’s in the back of my head a lot that I really want a family.”
Ben HigginsandJessica Clarke Higginsmade a crucial decision in their relationship that ultimately strengthened their bond before marriage.
During an appearance on theTalking It Outpodcast, the season 20Bachelorstar opened up about how the couple “successfully accomplished” their “mission” to abstain from pre-marital sex. Ben, 33, also explained how this journey made them stronger.
“There’s multiple angles to why that decision was made, right,” he began. “I think people hear it from the outside and they assume it was strictly a faith decision. A religious decision might be the better way to explain that. It wasn’t solely that.”
“We both believe in Jesus. That is something that is at the foundation [and] the corner of our life. It is what we try to have everything come out of,” he continued. “We also, because of that, do believe that sex is sacred. We believe it is something very powerful. Something very important to consider and hold dear, to talk about, to express. We also believe it’s an awesome thing. It’s a gift.”
David Becker/Getty
While Ben had engaged in that level of physical intimacy prior to their marriage, Jessica, 26, had not. This led to a conversation between the couple to decide how they would proceeded forward.
“We both talked it out and said, ‘What is the wise thing to do here for us?'” he said. “It was, ‘Hey, you’ve worked so hard to keep this moment special for you and I have had failed relationships where that has been a part of my life. And so, let’s try. Like, let’s see what happens there because we have a whole life together.'”
But that plan had its challenges, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic began. Ben said the couple, whogot engagedin March 2020, “didn’t think COVID was going to shut down our wedding.”
“So the question was what came of that? … It wasn’t easy. So it forced us to grow stronger together in our commitment to each other,” he continued. “It also got us really excited for when we did get married. There was something very special there. Something that we were going to work through as a married couple when we had already committed our lives to each other.”
RELATED VIDEO: Ben Higgins and Jessica Clarke Share Details About Their “Simple and Elegant” Wedding Ceremony
Added Ben, “Finally, I think there was a level, too, where because that physical part of our relationship was not an option, it forced us and allowed us to communicate with our words a lot easier. So we talked things out.”
Ben also said he would “very much push against” not abstaining from pre-marital sex in a committed relationship, though “it was right” for his own bond with Jessica. “I think it was a healthy decision,” he noted.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Ben and Jessicatied the knotin November atThe Estate in Cherokee Docknear Nashville, Tennessee.
As their relationship continues to progress, welcoming children together isn’t out of the realm of possibilities. Ben previously toldEntertainment Tonight: “It’s in the back of my head a lot that I really want a family.”
source: people.com
