top of page
Search

How Can I Have A Thriving Christian Marriage?

Couple Getting Married in a Church
Couple Getting Married in a Church

Whether you're having problems with marriage, relationships, anxiety, or depression, Florecer Family Counseling is ready to help you. Our team provides the comprehensive mental health and therapy services that you need. We believe that every person deserves support towards their healing journey, and we are ready to walk right beside you. Don't wait to take the first step—give us a call or contact us today to begin counseling.



Are you considering marriage but are still feeling uncertain as to how you can build a relationship that thrives and also seeks to honor God? This blog explores how to approach marriage with a biblical foundation, offering insights for couples who want to ground their marriage with biblical principles as well as cope with the anxiety that comes with getting married.


Understanding Marriage Through a Biblical Lens


Marriage is one of the biggest and most important decisions you can make in life, and the Bible is clear on what marriage is and what it should be. The Bible gives a clear outline as to how husbands should treat their wives, and vice versa.


From a counseling perspective, we see that biblical principles offer both spiritual guidance and psychologically sound relationship practices that promote healthy attachment, communication, and forgiveness


Biblical Principles of Marriage


Love of Christ: In Ephesians 5:25-30, Paul writes and compares the love of Christ for the church to the love that a husband should have for his wife. Just as Christ sacrificed for the church, healthy marriages should have both partners sacrifice their self-interest for their spouse. In this way, a couple can express their love for one another and also build trust in their marriage.

One Flesh: In Genesis 2:24, the concept of two becoming one symbolizes the deep emotional and spiritual intimacy that should be present in strong marriages. This part ties into the previous part in that both partners should sacrifice their self-interest for their spouse.


The Commitment of Marriage: In Hebrews 13:4, the Bible says that marriage should be pure and that there should be no unfaithfulness. Cheating on a spouse is one of the biggest betrayals in marriage, and usually ends up destroying the marriage.


Biblical Love: In 1 Corinthians 13, the Bible says that love should be kind and patient, even when you receive nothing for loving others in that way. The same can be applied to marriage, in that love should be patient when it comes to your spouse, and you should both be ready to forgive each other.


Preparing for Marriage in Faith


Pray for Your Marriage or Relationship

  • Take time to pray for your relationship and for wisdom

  • Pray about any doubts or challenges you have in the relationship

  • Pray together to build a stronger bond with each other and with God


Learn what the Bible says about Marriage

  • Study passages that talk about what marriage is and what it should be

  • Learn what the Bible says about forgiveness and compassion for one another

  • Consider using a biblical pre-marital study guide together


Seek Counseling for your Relationship

Addressing Pre-Marital Anxiety from a Biblical Perspective


Experiencing anxiety about marriage is a normal experience, even for committed believers. Anxiety before marriage is usually caused by the size of the commitment you and your partner are about to make. Even so, it is important to make sure your marriage is founded on solid ground.


In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus compares living by His word to building a house on solid rock rather than on a shaky foundation. The same can be said for marriage, as our relationship with Jesus is symbolic of marriage. Without a strong foundation, any marriage would find itself struggling, and it is important to build one before marriage. Below are a few tips to manage anxiety and grow stronger in your relationship.


Challenge Negative Thoughts

  • Ask yourself if your worries are likely to happen

  • Ask yourself if your worry is founded in logic

  • Seek what God says in his word about your situation


Practice Healthy Communication

  • Listen actively without judgment, as encouraged in James 1:19

  • Address concerns directly with patience and kindness

  • Work through problems as a team, reflecting biblical partnership


Address Underlying Concerns

  • Understand if your anxiety is from the commitment or larger concerns

  • Examine family-of-origin patterns that might be influencing your fears

  • Discuss expectations about roles, finances, children, and spiritual leadership


Seek Professional Counseling

  • Find a couples counselor to work through your concerns

  • Learn strategies to cope with anxiety as a team

  • Find out if there are any underlying problems in the relationship causing anxiety


Moving Forward in Faith


Marriage is an intimidating prospect for millions of couples, and in this intimidation, much uncertainty can come about. During those stressful or anxious times, seeking God's wisdom as well as seeking to grow your relationship with your partner is invaluable. During those times in which you find yourself uncertain with marriage, you do not need to face your uncertainties alone. With pre-marital counseling, you can learn ways to cope with your anxiety as well as learn strategies to strengthen your upcoming marriage. Don't let fear steal the joy of what God has in store—reach out to Florecer Family Counseling today and let's build your marriage on the rock-solid truth of His word together


Read Related Blogs


Understanding Cold Feet: Red Flags vs Healthy Nerves: Planning a wedding is normally a very stressful situation, and it's completely normal to experience anxiety before such a major life change. However, it is important to know whether or not your anxiety is caused by natural causes or if it is the result of instability in the relationship. To learn more, check out the blog here at Understanding Cold Feet: Red Flags vs Healthy Nerves


How Marriage Strengthens Your Faith Journey Together: Marriage offers couples a unique opportunity to deepen their spiritual connection and grow closer to God as they navigate life with shared values and purpose. In the upcoming blog, we will look at how Marriage can strengthen you and your spouse's faith journey together.


Frequently Asked Questions About Biblical Marriage


What is the biblical definition of marriage? The Bible describes marriage as a union between one man and one woman who become "one flesh." It's a covenant relationship designed by God to last for life and is also symbolic of Christ's relationship with the Church.


What does the Bible say about divorce and remarriage? The Bible says that divorce is only permissible in extreme cases such as unfaithfulness. The Bible generally sees marriage as permanent except for after death, where either party is allowed to remarry.

When is the right time for marriage? The right time for marriage is different for everyone based on maturity and compatibility. With the divorce rate being 50%, it is important to make sure that you and your partner are really prepared for marriage. An important part of knowing the right time for marriage is knowing if you and your partner are equally yoked, meaning that you two are of the same mind regarding faith and marriage.


What does it mean to be unequally yoked? This means a Christian marrying someone who doesn't share their faith or marrying someone who isn't as serious in their faith. The Bible warns against this as an unbalanced marriage struggles to bring glory to God and struggles to work out.



Comments

bottom of page