I have been married for 1 year, 9 months... and 10 days if you want to be precise.  My husband and I have been through our ups and downs, times of trial and times of deep joy.  In this year and 9 months we have discovered again and again the truth that marriage is a challenge that you are never quite prepared for.   Yet, by grace, we keep fighting together and learning how to face the struggles life throws at us.

Couples in today's culture, I think, have an increasingly difficult road ahead of them.  Cohabitation has become the norm, which has been proven to decrease the rate of marriage and greatly increase a couple's chance for divorce (also here).  Divorce is rampant.  Seven years is supposedly the breaking point for many marriages, but 1 in 12 marriages end within the first two years.

How many longtime, happily married couples do you know?  Are they still on their first marriage?  Or is it their second or third, which might only last a few more years before they are dissatisfied and decide to move on.

For those of you who see little hope of lifetime happiness in marriage.  For those of you who don't have any role models to follow in this area to give you hope.  Take a minute to be encouraged,  John Thomas from Boundless Webzine, writes about his experience:


There are couples out there who have made it through 60+ years of marriage.  And wisdom does come with age, so maybe those of us who are new to this can learn from their diligence.

For further insight and advice on marriage for the long-haul visit Focus on the Family, or FamilyLife.