Hopeless, lost, and lonely. Those are some of the words I’d use to describe our marriage in the early years. It wasn’t a great place to be. Our marriage was on the verge of ending and we almost had spent more time being engaged than being married. We are in a different place today. We’ve made it through a lot of challenges, which have ended many other couples’ marriages.
We made it through trust issues, in-law issues, job loss, financial devastation, and homelessness (twice!). Many times, we weren’t sure we would make it. Our marriage seemed dead. Now we can look back and see how we resurrected it. You can do the same. Here are 5 ways to bring your marriage back to life.
1. Remember what attracted you to your wife.
Sometimes, life gets the best of us and we forget what brought us together. Hold onto that vision and revisit it. She may look a little different and have changed in some areas but, at her core, she is still that same woman.
2. Start dating again.
We rediscovered dating a few years ago, and it’s changed our marriage drastically. We ruthlessly don’t let anything stand in the way of our weekly date.
3. Get away.
There is nothing like a week away with your spouse to help your marriage. A break from the norm does wonders in itself. And if you attend an event or retreat geared to help your marriage, it has amazing results. We now attend at least one marriage retreat every single year.
4. Get help.
Counseling, in good and bad times, can help your marriage grow and help you grow together.Marriage counseling comes with a stigma, which causes couples to avoid it. But remember: Counseling, in good and bad times, can help your marriage grow and help you grow together.
5. Pray together.
This has been one of the most powerful ways we’ve brought our marriage back to life over the years. Prayer is a game-changer. If you are praying, but not praying with your wife, I encourage you to pray together. You will reach a level of intimacy that you don’t often reach.
Sound off: What is one way you’ve revived (or would like to revive) your marriage?
Huddle up with your wife and say, “I am committed to our marriage and I will do what it takes to make it better.”