Saving Your Marriage: Finding Hope in a Hopeless Situation
Saving a marriage isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” process. But most marriages do face similar issues. And while a marriage on the rocks can feel hopeless, I truly believe most marriages can be saved. Check out these tips to help get your relationship back on track.
Learn How to Communicate
You’ve got to get your communication back. It’s usually one of the first things to dry up in the relationship, and it’s the root of most problems. It’s helpful to set aside a certain amount of time each day to share with each other. During that time, talk over your days and ask questions. Find out what it is that made you want to communicate with each other to begin with. Make no mistake: it’ll be awkward at first. But making this important skill a habit can do wonders for your relationship.
Spend Quality Time Together
Okay, so it’s a bit of a cliche, but a nice trip or a few days spent outside your usual relationship area can make a huge impact. Even better, if you can make trips or activities like this a habit, it’ll help you re-learn to interact with each other in a fun and loving way. It’s so easy to let our communication boil down to the bare minimum; making an intentional effort can make a world of difference.
Learn to Listen, Not Just Talk
Sometimes when you get to know someone so well, it’s almost as if you feel you no longer need to engage them or listen to them in conversation. If you can become a better listener you can prove to your partner that you are engaged in their life and that you respect their opinions. Who doesn’t want that? Simply by starting and actively participating in conversations with them you will be strengthening your bond, and you’ll notice your partner is more interested in you too.
Make it Fun
If you’ve removed joy and replaced it with the mundanity of everyday life, your relationship will feel pretty miserable. Laugh with each other. Let your guard down. Just have fun. Return to things you enjoyed when you were dating.
Worship Together
If you’re not already, get your butt to church. There are countless studies and statistics that show that divorce rates are lower for couples who spend time in prayer and worship together. Growing in a community of faith only brings strength to your own marriage.
Don’t Be Afraid to Seek Professional Help
A good, Christian marriage counselor can help you explore your faith while helping you find ways to move forward in the relationship. Our friends at Revive Counseling Center help people find hope in relationships that feel hopeless. Just going to one session isn’t going to fix everything — it takes time to find wholeness in a broken relationship. But asking for a professional’s assistance is a great start to getting things back on track. There’s no shame in seeing a counselor.
Working to salvage a relationship is no easy feat. But with some hard work, determination, prayer, and a desire to see the marriage grow, you can find success in your relationship.