Everyone wants better days in their marriage, but some question if those days will ever come. The truth is the hard times help make your marriage better. Take a look at how to make it through the hard times.

1. Marriage & Better Days
How Do We Make It Through The Hard Times?

2. Scripture References
Genesis 29:30-31
Genesis 49:31-33
Philippians 2:12-13
Acts 9:4-5
Philippians 2:12-13
Ephesians 4:31-32
2 Timothy 2:3-5

3. Topic Overview
Marriage and Conflict…In the beginning
What do Better Days Look Like?
Expectations of Marriage…The Silent Killer
Better Days Delayed…Is that train ever coming? I’m tired of
waiting!
How do we get to our Better Days and what should I do while I
wait?
Marriages of the Bible…Question we must all ask of our
marriages

4. Marriage and Conflict…In
The Beginning
Adam and Eve…the tree
Abraham and Sarah…the outside child
Jacob, Leah, and Rachael…the love
Moses and Zipporah…instruction
Job and wife…commitment to God
Lot and wife…change
Hosea and Gomer…faithfulness
Ahasuerus and Vashti…obedience
David and many…???

5. What Do Better Days
Look Like?
Right individual relationship with God
Collective relationship with God
Transparency with God and each other
Right relationship with each other…intimacy and
friendship

6. Expectations of Marriage…
The Silent Killer
What did you really hope to get from marriage when you started out?
Many of our original expectations of marriage/spouse are/were external, because we were often
taught to look for what we wanted, but not taught what we needed.
False or unrealistic expectations of marriage, our spouses and our role probably singlehandedly kills
more marriages than anything else or at least needs to the things that bring about marital demise
Examples of Expectations (Did you talk about it?)
Loyalty & Commitment…how does that look
Family size…1 kid, 3 kids, no kids…
Bedroom activity…frequency…how…etc…
Household duties…roles and participation
Financial stability…definition, price and cost

7. Better Days Delayed…Is That Train
Ever Coming? I’m Tired of Waiting!
Better Days in marriage seem to be delayed for many
and the reasons are numerous. Everyone is looking for a
solution, but the truth is there is no silver bullet.
Regaining better days is like rebuilding bad credit…it
didn't get there overnight and it's not going to get better
overnight…It will take time, diligence and investment.
The delay of Better Days should not mean the end of
your marriage, but rather an indicator that something
needs to be addressed.

8. How do we get to our Better Days
and what should I do while I wait?
Identify the location of your marriage
Open the books…learn your spouse again
Work on your part
Make up your mind to fight for your marriage
Why am I fighting?
Am I committed to the sacrifice?
What is our “together” God purpose?
Why did I choose her/Why did she accept me?
Communicate…talk and listen
Master the 4 levels of communication…Out the house, In the house, and Within you.
Be intentional, merciful, graceful, compassionate and endure

9. Marriages of the Bible…Questions
We Must All Ask of Our Marriage
Adam and Eve…Our oneness
Abraham and Sarah…Our partnership
Jacob, Leah and Rachael…Our love focus
Moses and Zipporah…Our spiritual focus
Job and wife…Our trouble focus
Lot and wife…Our leadership focus
Hosea and Gomer…Our emotional focus
Ahasuerus and Vashti…Our community focus
David and…fill in the blank…at least 8 known wives…Our heart focus

10. About Us
For more information about Marriage Refresh or to
book an event…you can reach us at…
Email: information@marriagerefresh.net
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/marriagerefresh
Website: www.marriagerefresh.net
Twitter: @marriagerefresh
Phone: 850-510-6445