Search

Marriage

concerned woman comforts a distressed friend who has her head in her hands, symbolizing how to help someone in an abusive relationship.

How to Help Someone in an Abusive Relationship

You may want to know how to help and support someone you love who’s in an abusive relationship. Here are several ways that can enable you to be there for them.

Woman closeup flipping through book

Should Christians Read Romance Novels?

Just as pornographic images have the potential to ruin a man’s ability to love in real life, so too, a written form of pornography has the potential to ruin a woman’s ability to love in real life.

A young woman whispers into her fiancé’s ear while he looks surprised, representing the excitement and curiosity of asking important questions to ask your fiancé.

100 Questions To Ask Your Fiancé Before Tying the Knot

Be sure you truly know your fiancé before making that life-long commitment. Knowing about his or her understanding of certain topics like his or her spiritual life and history is key, as well as understanding how he or she views your relationship, the institution of marriage, gender roles, finances, communication, and parenthood are important.

A man and woman sitting closely together on a couch, leaning toward one another with their hands gently clasped. The calm, intimate setting conveys a quiet atmosphere aligned with themes of an attitude of gratitude and awe.

Attitude of Gratitude: Choosing Awe in Marriage

Is it possible to practice a deep sense of awe and an attitude of gratitude in the ordinary moments of marriage?

Married couple standing with their backs to each other with arms crossed. The woman looks over her shoulder at the man, wondering how to apologize to her spouse.

The Best Way to Apologize to Your Spouse

Do you tend to offer your spouse authentic apologies, or cheap one-liners? Many of us need to learn to offer true apologies. But a thriving marriage requires two spouses who are good at giving and receiving apologies. Healing may take time, but forgiveness is immediate.

A vivid yellow Eyelash Viper coiled tightly around a dark tree branch, its alert posture and piercing gaze symbolizing vigilance and danger—evoking themes of spiritual warfare against unseen threats.

How to Fight Spiritual Warfare in Marriage

Warning signs alert us when the Enemy attacks your marriage. Learn how to be victorious against the Devil’s schemes.

A couple smiling warmly with their foreheads touching, holding a red heart-shaped balloon, exemplifying how to have a happy Valentine’s Day with your spouse through shared affection and joy.

How to Have a Happy Valentine’s Day with Your Spouse

Setting realistic expectations can help you avoid the pitfalls of this holiday

A young couple sitting together on a kitchen counter surrounded by moving boxes, unpacking and laughing as they settle into a new home while living together before marriage.

Cohabitation: Does it Help or Hurt?

Many couples today are asking whether they should live together before marriage. At a recent marriage conference, one young man asked Greg Smalley that very question — honestly, directly, and with a desire to do what’s right. His answer, shaped by Scripture, research, and decades of working with couples, offers a perspective most people never …

How Birth Order Affects Your Marriage

Because of birth order, the place in their families of origin, spouses have different experiences growing up, and that shapes behavior, personalities and relationships with each other. Understanding how birth order affects how your spouse thinks and behaves can improve communication in your marriage.

Smiling couple holding hands on a forest trail, symbolizing unity, trust, and biblical leadership in relationships.

What is Biblical Leadership in Marriage?

Ephesians 5:23 calls men to be leaders in the home. “For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior” (ESV).

Close up of a man's hand typing on a laptop as he sits in the dark, symbolizing the impact of porn on a marriage

How Pornography Impacts Marriage

Pornography — whether used infrequently or as an addiction — is a big deal. It sacrifices true intimacy, forsakes a real relationship for a lying imitation, and twists the true purpose of sex. Porn rewires the brain to focus on “you” — not on intimacy.

A couple shares a romantic moment at sunset, silhouetted against a dramatic sky, embodying the idea of what the Bible says about soulmates.

What Does the Bible Say About Soulmates?

Don’t get swept away with the exciting notion that your soulmate has arrived. Check what the Bible has to say about soulmates first.

A couple sitting across from each other hold hands, in support of each other. Be on the lookout for warning signs of mental health issues.

Warning Signs that Your Spouse Has Mental Health Issues

When spouses stay alert to changes in each other, they can catch warning signs of possible mental health issues early on and seek the help they need. Watch for drastic emotional, cognitive, physical, behavioral, or spiritual changes. If a souse needs help, it’s wise to initiate a gentle conversation, ask questions, and get an outside …

A close-up of a bride and a groom at the wedding, with the groom putting the wedding ring on the bride's finger.

9 Reasons to Get Married

Since people are getting married less often, it’s important to understand the reasons to get married. There are practical reasons, like the fact that marriage creates stable societies, is the best environment for raising children, and greatly benefits each spouse. There are also spiritual reasons, such as becoming more Christlike and reflecting His love for …

A man and a woman sit on opposite ends of a couch, turned away from each other. Here's how to identify and deal with a spouse on the autism spectrum, and how to navigate autism and marriage.

How to Navigate Autism Spectrum Disorder in Marriage

Undiagnosed autism in marriage may result in confusion and pain for both spouses. If you discover that your spouse has autism, don’t lose hope for your marriage. You can move forward by accepting the differences, resetting your expectations, and finding help.

A joyful couple embracing outdoors, symbolizing God’s plan for marriage based on love, companionship, and commitment.

God’s Design for Marriage

God’s design for marriage is an other-centered union where each spouse serves each other and depend on His grace and mercy. When we grasp the reality of marriage and stop expecting it to provide what it was never meant to give, we can build marriages that thrive.

Unrealistic Expectations and Time With Family

When pressure to have the perfect holiday builds relationship tension, we need to change our unrealistic expectations. We need to accept that we cannot change our relatives. But we can set boundaries and not take things personally. Once we do this we can better appreciate the time spent connecting with family members.

African American couple planning budget

Tithes and Offerings: Charitable Giving and Your Budget

As we grow in our understanding of God’s perspective on tithes and offerings, we may realize there are powerful reasons to give. Giving is a concrete way to acknowledge God and worship him in gratitude. But it is also a way to obey God and meet the needs of others.

Depressed-wife-married-to-an-addict-husband-drinking-alcohol-from-bottle-in-background

Married to an Addict: How to Help Your Loved One

If you’re married to an addict, don’t give up hope. Making sure you are able to help and getting support from other people are key steps that you can take. Here’s how one expert counselor explains how to care for yourself and avoid enabling your addicted loved one.

A married couple works together in the kitchen, preparing food as part of their shared act of serving others.

Serving Others With Your Spouse Can Improve Your Marriage

Helping others as a couple can improve communication and create intimacy in your marriage.