5 Important Things to Keep a Marriage Strong
💍 5 Keys to a Strong, God-Centered Marriage
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Marriage is one of the most beautiful—and refining—journeys God can give us. From the moment you say “I do,” you begin learning what true love, grace, and teamwork look like.
Falling in love is easy, but staying in love takes daily effort, humility, and a lot of prayer.
In this post, I’m sharing five things that have helped my husband, Patrick, and me build a strong and lasting marriage—not a perfect one, but a faithful one.
1️⃣ Put God First
I used to think I had a strong faith when I got married, but truthfully, I didn’t really know what it meant to walk with God until years into our marriage. There were seasons when my faith wavered—when I doubted, drifted, or tried to handle life on my own.
But every time, God gently drew me back. When Patrick and I began inviting Him into our marriage, everything changed. We started growing not just as a couple, but individually in our relationships with Him.
One book that really encouraged me in that season was Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. (I don’t agree with every word, but it offered so much insight into God’s design for marriage and helped me better understand my role as a wife.)
When God is at the center, your marriage has a foundation that no storm can shake.
2️⃣ Communication Is Everything
If someone asks me the secret to our marriage, my first answer is always communication.
We didn’t always have it figured out—in fact, most of our early arguments came from not saying what we really meant or needed. Over time, we learned to stop assuming and start explaining. To be honest about what we felt, even when it wasn’t easy.
The more we talked, the more we understood each other’s hearts—and the fighting almost completely disappeared.
Want a great resource? The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman is one of my favorite books for learning how to connect and communicate better with your spouse.
3️⃣ Truly Listen
Listening isn’t just about hearing words—it’s about understanding the heart behind them. When your spouse speaks, don’t just wait for your turn to talk. Try to really hear them. Ask questions. Empathize.
Sometimes, that means admitting when you’re wrong. Sometimes, it means meeting in the middle. Either way, when both people feel heard, walls come down and love deepens.
4️⃣ Practice Forgiveness Daily
Forgiveness might seem like an obvious part of marriage, but living it out daily is harder than it sounds. It’s easy to get frustrated over socks on the floor or toothpaste left open—but those little annoyances aren’t worth losing peace over.
I’ve learned to thank God for the simple fact that my husband is here—alive, healthy, and working hard for our family. There are wives who would give anything for one more morning beside their husband. That perspective changes everything.
For the bigger hurts, communication and prayer are key. Talk it through, give grace, and choose forgiveness—even when it’s hard.
5️⃣ Make Time for Each Other
Marriage needs intentional time together—both physical closeness and emotional connection. Whether it’s a quiet dinner after the kids are in bed or a simple walk around the block, that one-on-one time rebuilds intimacy and joy.
If you’re short on childcare, check out my post Date Night Ideas at Home for easy, fun ways to reconnect without leaving the house.
💕 Final Thoughts
Marriage isn’t about perfection; it’s about two imperfect people choosing each other every day, with God leading the way.
Whether you’re newly married or decades in, I pray these tips encourage you to keep growing, forgiving, and loving deeply. Remember, God isn’t just part of your story—He is the story that holds your marriage together.
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