One of the things that has been on our hearts lately at The One Bride Guide is doing more to help marriages last. We do a good job of giving you loads of resources for wedding planning and inspiration, but what happens after you say “I do?” We want to do more, so our first step is sharing some easy tools you can get on your own: books!
Every marriage is different, and you don’t learn how to be married before marriage, so how do you make sure your commitment to each other will stand the test of time? You study. You learn. And you put in the work to make it last. There’s no golden ticket to a perfect marriage. The sooner you get in a habit of working and learning together and seeking out help, the better chance you have of being a success story.
Too many marriages encounter situations where you feel like you’ve had enough, and one or both of you start thinking about calling it quits. It’s never too late to get help. If you have a strong community, first seek counsel. There are free counselors like STCH Ministries. Get on the wait list before you need them!
A quick way to start is with easy-to-consume resources. Reading or listening to books helps refocus your mind and gets you into a place where you can look at your struggles with fresh eyes.
Three books that have been impactful in helping my husband and I last almost 20 years (next year!) are The Power of the Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian, Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas, and Peacemaking Women by Tara Klena Barthel and Judy Dabler. Two are obviously focused on the wife, but Sacred Marriage is more husband-
focused, although valuable for wives to read. Gary Thomas asks, “What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?” Whoa!!!
Check out these books in paperback or on Audible. When we are constantly reading and listening to good words about marriage, it’s a way of putting on the armor of God, equipping ourselves to handle anything that comes our way.
*Find these books for purchase under Resources. Some of the covers have been updated since the original publication of this article in The One Bride Guide, Volume 16, Issue 1.
