marriage Archives

Rejecting Divorce and Choosing to Stay

Fifteen years into their marriage, an otherwise normal lunch date between Carey and Toni Nieuwhof turned into a disastrous argument.

As they remember it now, Carey complained about something, which triggered Toni to shut down, which compelled Carey to persist in his argument, which escalated Toni’s emotions until she exploded in anger. By the end of the lunch, Toni was so frustrated that she threw her wedding ring at him and said, “I don’t want this anymore.”

It’s heartbreaking to see married couples reach a point of desperation and hopelessness.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage July 18, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Double Dating

Married couples need to spend one-on-one time together to be healthy. But they also need a community of couples who positively influence their relationship.

Your marriage is not an island. You need to interact with other couples – to invest in their lives and for them to invest in yours. This is especially important because so many people live far away from members of their extended family and can’t benefit from their influence. If you don’t have family support, the influence of good friends is invaluable.

Topics: Family and Home/ Uncategorized Tags: family, marriage July 13, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Becoming Friends with Your In-Laws

Do you get along with your in-laws?

If you catch yourself snickering at that question, who could blame you? In-law jokes (particularly about mothers-in-law) are a mainstay of modern comedy routines and a common stereotype in movies and television shows. But within every joke there is a kernel of truth. And the truth here is that in-law relationships can be difficult.

What’s the best way to work through this delicate area of marriage?

Jean and I don’t have a great deal of experience in this area.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage July 12, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The Best Choices You Can Make for Your Marriage

Researchers say that, on average, a person makes 35,000 decisions a day.

Coffee creamer or black?

Get out of bed now or later?

Scratch our head with our left hand or our right?

Answer our phone or not?

We make so many choices that we often don’t recognize that our ability to choose is even involved.

Like this one: loving our spouse.

We talk about love as if it’s an outside force. We say, “It was love at first sight.” Or we “fell in love.” We chalk up love to chance or chemistry instead of a conscious decision to act toward our spouse in loving ways.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage July 7, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

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.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: family, marriage June 22, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Finding Financial Freedom Together as a Couple

For many couples, money can be a source of intense confusion and despair. Most of us weren’t taught how to manage money well. We rely on tips we pick up along the way from family, friends, and social media.

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Finding Financial Freedom Together as a Couple,” our guests Bob and Linda Lotich are with us to share wise and godly money management principles that will bless your marriage and put your money to use for the Kingdom of God.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage June 12, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Learning to Love Your Spouse Well

It’s much easier to tell your spouse, “I love you,” than to show them through your actions.

That truth is illustrated in the number of questions we get from married couples about navigating busy schedules, financial issues, and communication and conflict. Each of these topics represent small everyday moments that easily turn into big disruptions to marital unity.

Authors Matt and Lisa Jacobson are with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Learning to Love Your Spouse Well” to encourage husbands and wives to serve and love each other well.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage June 6, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Predicting Successful Marriages

We try to predict everything – from the weather to the stock market to the winner of the Super Bowl or the World Series. But can anyone accurately predict the chances that your marriage will succeed?

Dr. John Gottman, a widely respected marriage therapist, estimates that he predicts with 90% accuracy whether or not a newly married couple will go the distance. His secret isn’t a crystal ball. It’s extensive research that examines how couples communicate.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage May 9, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Praying for Your Marriage Is Essential

Prayer is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your marriage.

Most Christian couples have heard that advice and believe it. But prayer still falls by the wayside when life gets busy and responsibilities demand our time and attention.

How can we incorporate prayer into our marriage in a way that not only helps us grow closer to our spouse but also deepens our relationship in Christ?

We’re answering that question on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Praying for Your Marriage Is Essential” with our guest Jodie Berndt, a public speaker, Bible teacher, and the author of 10 books, including the best-selling Praying the Scriptures series.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage May 8, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Avoiding the Chore War

When you ask couples which areas of life influence their marriage the most, children and finances are usually number one and two on the list. You may be surprised to learn that chores rank third.

How can something as simple as housework fuel conflict in a marriage?

Not long after the wedding, couples become focused on household tasks that matter to one spouse but not the other. The next thing you know they’re locked in a power struggle over who does more and who works harder.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: marriage May 5, 2023 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura