Most couples don’t start marriage thinking it’s a contract but many drift into living like it is: “I’ll do my part as long as you do yours.” But marriage was never meant to work that way. It’s not a contract, it’s a covenant. One asks, “What am I getting out of this?” while the other asks, “How can I love faithfully even when it’s hard?” That shift changes everything.

If your marriage feels more like roommates than “one flesh,” this week’s blog is for you because healthy marriages aren’t found, they’re built.

There is nothing more beautiful than a godly marriage. But great marriages don’t just happen overnight. To have a successful marriage, we must embrace God’s design for marriage and lean into the process of becoming one. For those registered to attend the upcoming Marriage Intensive on May 15-16, we encourage you to check out this blog post. It gives you an overview of the topics and the format for the weekend, and it outlines three small action steps for how to prepare yourself for this special time together.

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in the same relational conflict (different person, same pattern) you’re not alone. The reality is, our struggles in relationships are rarely random. Beneath the surface, there are patterns at work; deep, often unseen ways that we think, react, and relate to others. Paul Tripp helpfully identifies several of these patterns, all rooted in the same place: a heart that tends to turn inward.

This week, we want to invite you to take a simple but honest look at your relationships. In the message, we talked about how we often drift in our relationships without realizing it. Toward distance, frustration, or avoidance.

This chart is a tool to help you slow down and name where things actually are. Walk through each category (spouse, family, friends, church, coworkers) and ask: is this relationship thriving, strained, or avoided?

There are certain things in life that are just… messy.  Take one of the best foods on the face of the planet, for example: chicken wings.  They’re one of the best foods you can eat (in my humble but correct opinion). But they come with a cost. Sauce on your hands. Napkins piling up. Maybe even a stain or two… or three…if you’re not careful.