Bids for Connection: The Tool This Expert Says Is the Secret to Great...
It’s not big, blow out fights that wreck a marriage. It’s how we treat each other day to day. And that’s why...
Messy v. Neat Freak: How to Navigate the Cleanliness War In Your Marriage
Q: One of us is very neat, but the other is very messy. How can we keep from driving each other crazy?
A:...
Tone Deaf: Is What You’re Saying Hidden By How You’re Saying It?
I've said this several times, but Doug Fields is both a ludicrously gifted communicator and a very kind mentor and friend of...
Initiating (and Declining) Sex Without Starting a Fight
For many married couples initiating sex can be an awkward moment that leads to conflict or hurt feelings. They’re not sure what...
Your Spouse’s Perspective Is Annoying. You Should Listen Anyway!
I don’t know about you, but I often overlook the Lord’s eternal perspective. He sees all of time, from beginning to end,...
The Only “Fair” Marriage Is When Both Spouses Give 100 Percent.
Happily married Eric and Jill climbed out of bed at their normal Saturday morning hour. They had a lot to do around...
Self-Righteousness is Satan’s Favorite Attack Against Your Marriage. Here’s What You Can Do About...
What if one of the most dangerous attitudes for believers is self-righteousness?
What if it’s possible to be “right” and toxic at the...
Does Your Sex Life Feel Broken? You Can Always Rebuild It! Here’s How.
Today a reader is asking, “how do you reset your sex life?”
What if it’s been really difficult in the past, but now...
Want to Stop a Fight Before It Starts? Here’s How!
Do you sometimes feel the frustration simmering below the surface? Can you sense there might be an argument brewing? Let us encourage...
Why The Hugely Popular Book “Love & Respect” Could Be Harmful to Your Sex...
When I was first married, sex hurt. And I felt terribly guilty about that.
Have you ever looked back on your younger self...
The 3 Biggest Obstacles to a Healthy Marriage, and the Tools To Overcome Them
The other day I was telling my coworker stories from the early days of my marriage. It was one of those moments...
A Marriage That Can’t Forgive, Won’t Survive
Miranda had been spending money on a secret credit card for months. She hid receipts, she removed price tags, she sometimes even...
Want a Happier Marriage? Practice the Power of Positivity
One of the most often asked questions I get related to relationships is, “What are key ingredients that make up a successful relationship?” The...
8 Thought Distortions That Hurt Relationships
Distortion #1: All-or-nothing thinking
You see things in black-or-white categories. You think in absolutes such as “always”, “never”, or “every”. If a situation falls short of...
25 Ways to Fight Fair (#9 Is a Game-Changer)
Please note that the words “fight” and “fighting fair” are used below to mean expressing one’s disagreement or anger to another constructively....
How To Have Healthy Boundaries With Your In-Laws
Q: My mother-in-law really has my husband under her thumb. How can I get her to back off without hurting either of...
5 Signs That Your Marriage is Going to Make It
People often ask us, how can I tell if my marriage will last? In some cases, it may not be easy to...
Are Finances Supposed to Be the Man’s Job?
Q: My husband is terrible at handling the finances because he hates paperwork. I like to take care of the bills, but...
“In It To Win It” Is a Bad Goal For Marriage
My wife, Michelle, and I went on a beach vacation in early January. It was great to get away and to relax....
How Bad Married Sex Can Actually Be Good For You!
Steve meets Michelle.
They fall in love and get married shortly after graduation.
For our story...
Want a Happier Marriage? Stop Asking Your Spouse to Do This.
Don’t you think it would be cruel to ask your spouse to hold down five jobs?
Let’s say your...
The 1 Vital Thing Your Spouse Needs to Hear From You Today
A quick note up front. I (Josh) love talking about how to create and sustain healthy marriages. If you are a pastor...
5 Easy Ways to Stop Arguing With Your Spouse
Stop arguing with your spouse…if only it were so simple!
Let’s face it…communication is very complex.
Set These Realistic Goals for Your Marriage in 2019
A few years ago, at the suggestion of a friend, Troy and I began the tradition of setting goals for our marriage...
Last Year Was One of the Hardest Years of My Life … but One...
Most of the time here at Thriving Marriages we bring you the best content we've found around the web for building a...
Husbands: God Doesn’t Want You to Change Your Wife
I’ve been asked several times, “Gary, what do you do when Sacred Marriage doesn’t work?”
At first, I was confused by the question....
Why Won’t My Husband Share His Emotions With Me?
“Man up.”
“Suck it up.”
“Real men don’t cry.”
Boys learn very...
Are You Always Irritated at Your Spouse?
Think back to the day you were married. How did you feel about your partner? If you’re like many couples, you were...
Do You Trust the Person You’re Having Sex With?
Richard Nicastro, PhD, examines how the sexual intimacy stakes rise when you fall in love. He highlights the conditions that either encourage...
Behind Every Fight Is a Desire For Connection
Beth and Paul were sitting on the coach in front of me struggling to connect. They both felt dismissed, ignored, blamed, angry...
Should You Bring It Up, Or Let It Go?
For most of my marriage, I’ve had this question, that I just COULDN’T puzzle out.
It is this: when...
How Married Do You Want to Be?
How earnestly do you want to feel close to your spouse?
Enough to kill something for it?
How Your Family of Origin Impacts Your Marriage Now
The term family of origin is familiar to some but many not everyone. Everyone should have an understanding of it, being that...
Selfishness is the #1 Threat to Your Marriage’s Health
What have you probably heard is the number one problem in marriage?
Often cited as the number one problem is the lack of communication.
I don’t...
When Little Fights Become Big Problems
Q: We don’t have big fights, but lots of little disagreements and hurts simmer under the surface. How can we handle these?
A: The moment...
3 Communication Breakdowns You Can Fix Today
Communication is so important in a relationship. It’s the way we express our needs and wants to our partner. But sometimes, the message doesn’t...
Is Shame Ruining Your Relationship?
Dr. Richard Nicastro, Phd, deftly illuminates the undercurrent of one of the most toxic relationship challenges; shame, often at the root of individual distress...
How to Build Emotional Intimacy in Your Marriage
For women, emotional intimacy is crucial to a deep, thriving relationship. And the research proves it! For our book, The Five Love Needs of...
8 Sources of Conflict You Can Remove Immediately
What Are Your Conflict Blocks?
Dealing with conflict in appropriate and positive ways is a learned trait. Typically, we’ll begin learning conflict management at about...
What If Your Private Arguments Went Public?
A few days ago while in a disagreement with one of my boys, we exchanged a few “pleasantries” that I don’t want to repeat...
God’s Solutions to the Reasons For Divorce
Do you feel just plain unhappy in your marriage? Or that you’re no longer in love with your spouse? Some would say you should...
Four Amazing Truths to Remember in Tough Times
All marriages hit tough times, and most of the time here at Thriving Marriages we focus on how to survive them. A list of...
How to Win Every Confrontation in Your Marriage
When it comes to confrontation, I have a rule of thumb that has proved itself to be true over and over again:
The one who...
Why Saying “I Was Wrong” Will Transform Your Marriage
If you are old enough to recall the sitcom Happy Days, you’ll remember “The Fonz.” Henry Winkler played the character of Arthur Fonzarelli, the coolest...
Why Emotional Responsibility Will Save Your Marriage
In the early years of our marriage, confrontations between Sheri and me usually involved her turning into a T-rex and me turning into a...
How to Make Your Spouse Less Annoying
Minimize the Annoying Moments in Marriage
It’s obvious there are some marriage issues that are so big they cannot be ignored. Left unresolved, these large...
The Destructive Danger of a Negative Spouse
Frederick Buechner is a brilliant writer who can jump between fiction and nonfiction like a champion American Ninja Warrior skips over a water obstacle....
The Difference Between Forgiveness and Trust
When Jason and Alisha met with my wife and I they were in tough shape. Jason had just found out about his wife’s affair...
Forgiveness is Better than Regret
Today's great post comes from our friends at Live Your Best Marriage. Enjoy!
Ever noticed how difficult it is at times to forgive your spouse...
5 Steps to Freedom from Shame
When I was in elementary school, I was molested by a family member. That same family member introduced me to porn for the first...