https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/rss.xml Marriage Features Copyright https://www.crosswalk.com 2026, Crosswalk.com Mon, 25 May 2026 20:03:34 -0400 https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/christianity-questions-answers/why-was-jobs-wife-left-alive.html https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/christianity-questions-answers/why-was-jobs-wife-left-alive.html Mike Leake https://www.crosswalk.com/author/mike-leake/ Why was Job’s wife left alive when so much else was taken from him? This article explores several possible answers, then shows why her role in the story matters so deeply. It is a rich reflection on suffering, despair, and the temptation to believe faithfulness is pointless when pain feels unbearable. Mon, 25 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/7-truths-to-remember-when-your-spouse-struggles-with-a-porn-addiction.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/7-truths-to-remember-when-your-spouse-struggles-with-a-porn-addiction.html Candice Lucey https://www.crosswalk.com/author/candice-lucey/ Most people in the western world have viewed pornography, and many of them view it regularly, even becoming addicted. Michael Chancellor observed: “porn expands the lust for sex to the point that lust displaces God at the center of one’s life. [...] It elevates itself to be the greatest need. It isolates us from others but most especially from God.”If one spouse is addicted to porn, this triples the likelihood of adultery, while an “obsessive interest” in porn is cited as a cause in more than half of American divorces. Pornography distorts the purpose of sex and spoils a tender, three-dimensional intimacy between couples.There is hope for healing, however. How can one spouse respond redemptively when his or her spouse becomes addicted to porn?1. Acknowledge the PainEllen Mary Dykas says that “God invites you to grieve the hurt, the broken trust, and the deep disappointment caused by your [spouse’s] pursuit of pornography.” God invites us to enter this place of deep pain and confusion with him at our sides.Julie Ganschow explains: “You are in the midst of a trial that has broken the trust you once had [...]. Regardless of what kind of sexual sin he [or she] was involved in, the faith and confidence you once had [...] has been damaged, or, at the worst, destroyed.” Acknowledge whatever is in your heart, even if it is sinful, so you can start to heal.The suffering you face is also a reminder of your need for the love of God. It is tempting to run from the pain, but that puts up a wall from behind which you fail to discern God’s direction and his tenderness towards you. Apart from him, you might respond to your spouse’s sin with sins of your own. Ask God to walk with you through this ordeal, and “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Pixels Effect Mon, 25 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/relationships/7-commandments-of-a-great-marriage.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/relationships/7-commandments-of-a-great-marriage.html Ron Edmondson https://www.crosswalk.com/author/ron-edmondson/ I’ve observed things that work and things that don’t. I think there are some necessary ingredients for a healthy marriage. That’s the point of this post. Want a healthier marriage? Consider these 7 Commandments of Marriage... Fri, 22 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/sneaky-idols-destroying-christian-marriages-today.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/sneaky-idols-destroying-christian-marriages-today.html Clarence L. Haynes Jr. https://www.crosswalk.com/author/clarence-l-haynes-jr/ I learned something about idols a long time ago. Everything in your life has the potential to become an idol.We often equate idols with negative things or sinful pursuits, but an idol is anything that removes Christ from the number one position in your heart and life. There is only one throne in your heart; either Christ is sitting on it, or someone or something else is. When that happens, it becomes an idol.Idols don’t just affect us individually; they can sneak into your relationships. When they do, they can wreak havoc on those relationships. If you are married or considering marriage, pay close attention to ensure these idols don’t creep into your life.Photo Credit:©GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages Fri, 22 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/christianity-questions-answers/do-christian-weddings-have-to-take-place-in-a-church.html https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/christianity-questions-answers/do-christian-weddings-have-to-take-place-in-a-church.html Noelle Kirchner https://www.crosswalk.com/author/noelle-kirchner/ While church weddings are declining, they connect couples to sacredness, tradition, and community. Thu, 21 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/do-christians-have-to-get-married-in-a-church.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/do-christians-have-to-get-married-in-a-church.html Lisa Loraine Baker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/lisa-loraine-baker/ We are the church, so true believers always get married “in” the church no matter the location of the ceremony (assuming a Christian couple would not choose a questionable site). Weddings performed in a church setting, however, have a special nature about them because it’s where the church gathers every week to worship the Lord. Thu, 21 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/5-signs-the-person-you-love-is-a-narcissist.html https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/5-signs-the-person-you-love-is-a-narcissist.html Vivian Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/vivian-bricker/ A narcissist is someone who only cares about themselves. Rather than truly loving you, the only person they love is the reflection in the mirror.While many people name-call others narcissists in the modern day, there are certain things to look for when it comes to narcissists. If you have noticed that the person you love has any of the traits of being a narcissist, it might be time to end the relationship.A narcissist will never be able to love you as you deserve. God created marriage to be between one man and one woman. The man is to care for his wife as well as the woman should care for her husband.How will a husband be able to properly love, care, and cherish his wife if all he is thinking about is himself? In the same way, how can a wife fully love her husband if she is only thinking of her own wants and desires? As believers, we need to be aware of narcissists and ensure that we do not fall into their trap.Jesus tells us to be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). By utilizing what Jesus tells us here, we need to be smart in our dealings with others. Narcissists have a way of controlling and manipulating people to get what they want.This can even include winning your affection or love. While you might love them, they do not love you back. This can be a hard pill to swallow, yet it is something that must be done if we are going to be able to pursue healthier relationships in the future.Chances are that if you are reading this article, you have an inkling that the person you love is a narcissist. It could be things you have noticed on your own or maybe someone has mentioned your significant other has narcissistic tendencies.Whichever the case, know that it is perfectly normal to look into matters yourself. If you discover that the person you love is a narcissist, try to talk with them about it, but also understand that narcissists often believe that they are incapable of doing anything wrong. If this is the case, the best thing to do is to walk away from the relationship.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/fizkes Wed, 20 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/7-things-mormons-believe-about-marriage-and-family.html https://www.crosswalk.com/family/marriage/7-things-mormons-believe-about-marriage-and-family.html Sophia Bricker https://www.crosswalk.com/author/sophia-bricker/ What people believe about God affects everything in their lives — their view of work, stewardship, purpose, marriage, and family.When individuals have a worldview founded on anything other than the Bible, then what they believe about life can vary and change. Lots of what they believe can also be false.We see this principle at work in cults like the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Mormons have views about God that are counter to biblical truth.As a result, what they believe about life, including the purpose of their existence, their view of marriage, and the basis for having families is altered. Their beliefs about these areas of life are directly affected by their doctrine of who God is and how people can know Him.Christians should not be fooled by the attempts in recent years to place the LDS church within Christianity. Mormonism is not the same as biblical Christianity.They do not believe in the same Jesus or gospel as we do. Their teachings and religious practices prove this, even in common, everyday areas like marriage and family.Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Bassitt ART Wed, 20 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/scriptures-for-wives-to-cling-to-in-difficult-seasons.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/scriptures-for-wives-to-cling-to-in-difficult-seasons.html Amanda Idleman https://www.crosswalk.com/author/amanda-idleman/ If you are fortunate to be married for any extended length of time, you probably have come to the realization that the man you love so much can also be one of the hardest people to live with on the planet at times. Marriages go through seasons of flourishing joy and also through some pretty dark seasons.In my own marriage, we have endured many dark seasons. As a wife, there have been many moments where I almost lost hope that we could overcome our challenges as a couple, that forgiveness was powerful enough to heal the deep well of bitterness that sat at the center of our marriage, and that I could trust God to bring us out of the darkness that was heavy on our marriage.Through these difficult seasons, I held onto Jesus. By God’s grace, He did for and through us what we could not do for ourselves, and our marriage has made it out of the valley. Marriage isn’t easy, but it’s no longer a terrible weight on our lives. It’s a joyful partnership with manageable ups and downs, no longer an all-out war between our constantly competing needs. If God can do it for us, he can do it for you!That being said, my husband has always been faithful to me, he has never hurt me, and I’ve always felt safe in my home. If that is not the case for you, your best step is to separate yourself from your spouse. Confide in those you can trust and find safety for you and your children. God never wants us to remain in an unsafe marriage.Here are some Scriptures and encouragements to cling to in those difficult seasons of marriage:Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Guido Mieth Tue, 19 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/modern-challenges-christian-families-face.html https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/modern-challenges-christian-families-face.html Noelle Kirchner https://www.crosswalk.com/author/noelle-kirchner/ Every generation of parenting has its challenges, but parenting these days isn’t easy. If you feel bogged down, disconnected from your faith, and wondering if your efforts are making a difference in the relentless drive of culture, you’re not alone. This article will help you articulate what you are up against and give you the fuel to dive deeper into the arms of Jesus and enrich your parenting rewards.Perhaps you have heard someone say, “Parenting is one of the hardest things you will ever do, but it will also be the most rewarding.” While parenting well is hard, the rewards partially depend on our choices. Faith has the ability to enrich the rewards of parenting like nothing else.When Jesus walked on Earth, he encouraged his disciples to live in a manner different from their surroundings. He wanted others to notice that there was something different about them. Further, he wanted this difference to appeal and draw people into the faith as a witness tool. That’s one reason Jesus used the metaphor of salt to describe the behavior he was after—he wanted his followers to be seasoned in the world around them. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13). As Christian parents today, we have this same call. Here are five things you can do to be salt as a parent.Photo Credit GettyImages/fizkes Tue, 19 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400 2026-05-25T20:03:34-04:00