Growing Your Marriage in Times of Stress

Does your marriage stress you out?

Are you bringing stress into your marriage?

Either way, how do you handle it?

Many couples seek stress relief in non-relational ways that enable them to hide from each other. Drugs and alcohol. Shopping. Gambling. Excessive cleaning. Binge-watching television or social media.

We retreat.

We shut down.

We become silent and non-communicative.

Jesus faced stress. Luke 22:44 says, “Being in agony He prayed more earnestly; and His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Matthew 26:37 says Jesus was “sorrowful and troubled.”

Jesus modeled how to seek stress relief through relationship. Jesus didn’t act out his stress in anger on His disciples. Neither did He stuff His emotions and hope that His disciples guessed how he was feeling. He talked to His disciples about what He was feeling. He revealed what was going on inside of him and asked for support. In Matthew 26:38, Jesus tells Peter, James, and John, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Your spouse can’t know what’s going on in your soul unless you share it. When you do, you’ll ease your stress and deepen your intimacy with each other.

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Growing Y our Marriage in Times of Stress,” we’re joined by Milan and Kay Yerkovich, counselors, authors, and speakers, who will help your marriage become a place of comfort and renewal in times of stress.

They’ll teach how to emotionally connect with your spouse and to better understand how your family of origin impacts the relationships you have today as an adult.

Hear our full conversation on your local radio station, online, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, via Google Podcasts, or take us with you on our free phone app for a healing conversation about your marriage.

I’d like to extend an invitation for you to become a special partner with us through our monthly “Friends of Focus on the Family” program. When you do, I’ll send you a copy of Milan and Kay’s book, How We Love: Discover Your Love Style, Enhance Your Marriage as a way of saying thank you for touching others with the love of Christ. You’ll also receive member-exclusive benefits. To make your pledge, or for more information, click here or call 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).