There’s a reason so many couples have a hard time resolving marital conflict. When a disagreement erupts, they immediately sit down, start talking, and try to work out their differences.

Kinda sounds like the correct thing to do, doesn’t it? But according to my colleague, Dr. Greg Smalley, that’s the “absolute worst” thing you could do. Working through a disagreement with your spouse is part of the equation, but it’s not the place to begin.

Jesus laid out the proper path of reconciliation in Matthew 7:3 (ESV): “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”

Tempers can flare and hearts can close in the midst of conflict.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage September 26, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When it comes to marriage, Bob Kraning and his wife, Carol, have got the experience that counts. In May, they celebrated 60 years as husband and wife.

Whenever I hear about a couple like that, I can’t help but wonder, “What’s their secret?”

Bob provides some of the answers in a recorded message called “Twenty-Five Years and Still in Love.” Their “secrets” are actually timeless truths available to all of us. That’s why this program has been a blessing to countless marriages for the nearly 30 years we’ve been airing it.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage September 18, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The problem with life moving so fast is you never see the cracks starting to form.

That’s what Bob and Audrey discovered. They met in Bible college. They were passionate about their faith and each other and wanted to change the world together. They got married, and within a few years had three kids, were active in a national ministry, and began pastoring a thriving church. They attended marriage conferences and read books together. They were highly visible and well-known in their community.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage September 14, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

Dr. Gary Chapman never asks troubled couples, “Do you want to work on your marriage?”

Wanting something is a function of the emotions, and emotions rely on desire to get things moving.

That’s why Dr. Chapman asks troubled couples, “Will you work on your marriage?” The will involves decisions, not feelings. If a couple can say yes to that question, then good things can happen with the right guidance.

Some couples are headed for a divorce because they don’t know any other way to resolve their conflict.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage August 17, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

The secret to winning in a team sport is no secret at all. Teammates have to share a common goal and know how to work together to achieve it. When you wear the same uniform, it’s not about “me,” it’s about “we.”

That commitment to unity is what makes a marriage work, too. But working together as a team isn’t always easy. Just ask Joshua and Christi. They sometimes miss the goal of teamwork in their marriage, too.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage August 3, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

There’s a buzzword in pop culture that’s supposed to reveal the secret to a happy marriage.

“Chemistry.”

Successful relationships, we’re told, ultimately boil down to two people sharing common interests.

Obviously, the more points of agreement between a husband and wife, the better. But in God’s economy, the secret to a thriving marriage isn’t in a couple’s similarities, but in how they handle their differences.

God designed marriage to bring together two unique individuals into a sacred union where they “become one.” That requires a lot of hard work, selflessness, and a commitment to love your spouse through the good and the ugly.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: broadcast, marriage July 10, 2017 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura