Addiction. Depression. Anxiety. Unfaithfulness. Suicidal thoughts. Job loss. The list includes many of the reasons marriages disintegrate. Adelle and Travis Graham experienced them all – and more. But instead of letting adversity tear them apart, the couple leaned into God’s strength, pursued healing and now offer hope to others suffering similarly. 

Internationally respected couple's therapists and speakers Harville Hendrix, Ph.D., and Helen LaKelly Hunt Ph.D. dream of bettering the world through the renown Safe Conversations dialogue, and hope to spark a global social movement. Their well-known courses, trainings, and curriculums teach people how to have safe, healthy conversations.

According to Dr. Harville, “ Everybody needs to be seen, heard and valued.” Through their books and resources, Dr. Harville and Dr. Helen have impacted and continue to impact the prosperity of relationships by teaching people everywhere how to have safe conversations.

Life holds many surprises. Despite our best laid plans, we can look up like the prodigal son and realize we are not in the place we imagined we’d be.

This was the situation for author and coach Kari Trent Stageberg. Like so many young people, Kari spent a desert season away from faith and family, eventually becoming a survivor of domestic abuse. As Kari accepted God’s love and the blessing of her family, she learned that there is nothing the Lord can't heal.

Now working closely with her father Dr. John Trent, Kari co-runs StrongFamilies with him as CEO, assisting in running day-to-day operations. She also writes books and creates many resources to help the next generation of newly marrieds and young families.

Their marriage is in trouble — real trouble. The husband or wife may have anger issues, experienced abuse or infidelity. Where do they turn for help? Isn’t counseling expensive? How does a couple even find a counselor who will offer godly advice? Isn’t it easier just to call it quits?

Houston-area Hans and Star Molegraaf, founders of Marriage Revolution ministry and long-time FamilyLife speakers, have walked in those shoes and can provide a path forward. They offer biblical resources, counseling and events “to turn your love around,” through their website, noting, “When marriage is hard, life gets harder.”

Joe and Stephanie DeMott are planning their 50th wedding anniversary next year. But things have not always been so rosy for the couple who founded Missionaries2Marriages 10 years ago and have dedicated the last 38 years of their lives ministering to couples in the U.S. and across the globe.

During their own journey of healing, they realized that they needed to pour out what they learned, as God showed them the importance of testimony.

Sue and Tony Morris remain an ordinary couple, juggling family, work and church activities. But this ordinary couple has done extraordinary things – including spearheading thousands of volunteers as they serve as leaders for Worldwide Marriage Encounter.

Worldwide Marriage Encounter is the Gold Standard of Catholic marriage curricula as it continues to be the most popular faith-based marriage enrichment in the world. A non-profit movement, WWME exists as its own entity and presents more than 4,000 experiences in nearly 100 countries every year.

God is faithful. He promises a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair… and to repay for the years the locusts have eaten.

The rebirth of Brad and Lisa Valencia’s now 22-year marriage could be described no less vividly.

Twelve years ago, it seemed their relationship was dead. Brad had walked away from life with Lisa, leaving her alone with three small children, one just nine months old. Divorce papers had been prepared. Lisa was about to sign, until a phone call from Brad caused her to pause.

He told her he felt God calling him back in forgiveness to the faith and family he’d left.

If you’ve hit your 40th birthday and you’re married, you’ve probably felt the pull of midlife. Maybe it’s the squeeze of taking care of an aging parent and the kids. Or a corporate restructure has jumpstarted early retirement. Perhaps an empty nest has caused you and your spouse to wonder if you even know each other. Any and all of these situations can cause a midlife couple to pause and take inventory of their lives and the state of their marriage.

Dorothy Greco, award-winning photographer, author and speaker, addresses midlife issues and transparently shares lessons learned as she and her husband, Christopher, have navigated the past 33 years of marriage together … and in so doing drawn closer to God and each other.

Pastor, speaker, author and consultant Rob Rienow, DMin, has a heart for the Gospel and a passion for marriages and families. He feels called to share the message that God created marriage and the home as the bedrock of culture and civilization. Sadly, these concepts have lost traction in modern western culture.

Do you know what we need more than anything else to address these problems? We need more people who love Jesus Christ and who are willing to lay down their lives for Him.

The Rienows believe God created marriage for two main purposes. 1) To reflect God’s glory as a picture of the love between Christ and the church. 2) To raise godly children who will advance the kingdom of Christ to the next generation.

One day you wake up and realize your spouse has been hiding a terrible secret. It might be an affair or irresponsible spending. Your marriage isn’t what you thought it was, you feel betrayed, and you have decisions to make. Can a marriage be restored when trust is broken?

Marriage leaders Justin and Trisha Davis have been in your shoes. They share their personal journey overcoming betrayal, an affair and the redemption of their relationship through their RefineUs ministry.

You’ve heard the hit, “This is How We Do It.” Everyone’s familiar with the anthem that’s been part of pop culture for the last 25+ years. It’s a ubiquitous favorite, played by the NFL, NBA, in commercials and at weddings and proms — guaranteed to pack the dance floor. The song’s artist/manager duo, Montell and Kristin Jordan, had been married less than a year when the title reached number #1 on the charts. The couple’s rocketing fame almost caused their marriage to disintegrate. They weathered trials and tribulations, and eventually, after two decades of world tours and millions of album sales, they chose marriage over music, faith over fame, and significance over success.

People want to win in their relationships – it’s a common denominator whether couples are just engaged or have been married for decades. Lucille Williams has experienced this desire firsthand — as a church ministry leader for more than 25 years and a pastor’s wife, she’s heard her share of stories. Lucille draws from these experiences, along with her own now 41-year marriage, to deliver wisdom served with a heaping helping of humor.

Do you realize that every interaction between you and your spouse is either knitting your hearts closer together or infinitesimally moving them farther apart. Like grains of sand being washed away from an eroding beach, one day you could look up and realize the entire coastline of your marriage has changed. Marriage ministry leaders Jill and Mark Savage named that distancing process the “Slow Fade” after a line in a Casting Crowns song that described the drifting that contributed to what they call the darkest year of their now 40-year marriage.

Where do you look for answers when married life gets tough? You may not know anyone whose marriage has stood the test of time. And even if you did, would you feel comfortable asking them to share intimate details of their lives? People can easily find themselves adrift without role models and end up regretting decisions or behavior. That’s where Rhonda Stoppe steps in. She’s an author, speaker, and podcast host who offers wisdom she’s gleaned during the quarter century she’s worked with couples alongside her pastor husband of four decades, Steve.

Carol Kent was born to communicate. Not only is she a speaker and author herself, but Carol is also the founder and director of the Speak Up Conference, a ministry that equips speakers and writers to share their stories effectively. She’s also president of Speak Up Ministries, an organization that offers MasterMind and intensive coaching on-line groups for writers, speakers, and leaders. With her husband, Gene, Carol started the nonprofit organization, Speak Up for Hope, which benefits inmates and their families.

Where did the romance go? Many couples look up a few years into their marriage (and a baby or two) and wonder what happened. Wives in particular may feel the expectations they had of happily ever after have faded. Their once charming prince has retreated into silence and distance. Both have become so busy with work, family obligations and children they feel like ships passing in the night. Award-winning writer and national speaker Cindi McMenamin inspires women to let God meet their emotional needs, grow stronger through their alone times, and pursue their dreams with boldness.

There’s nothing more delightful than to hear your spouse laugh. It’s pure gold knowing the person you love is feeling joy and having fun, say Jay and Laura Laffoon, authors and speakers who create opportunities for spouses to connect and grow as they laugh together. They dub their work “Edutainment,” as they combine education with entertainment during date night events and marriage conferences where they transparently share the messiness of their 35-year marriage.

There’s something special about great duos. Where would Fred Astaire have been without Ginger Rogers? Or Batman without Robin? The most effective partnerships combine individual strengths for a greater mutual outcome. Such is the dynamism of Brenda and Gil Stuart’s work over the past 18 years helping people with their relationships.

Marriage ministry leaders Mary and Dave Gothi couldn’t have come from more disparate backgrounds. Despite their differences, the two shared a passion for helping couples weather the storms of marital distress. They’ve now been married for 27 years, during most of which they have worked to help couples improve their marriages, and, since 2010, live on mission to make a difference in the world.

Have you ever worried that something in your past might disqualify you from serving God? Feel like poor choices or growing up in a dysfunctional home are too much to overcome? Be encouraged. God can redeem all things. There’s no background or brokenness God can’t use for good for those who wholeheartedly seek him.