It’s no secret that relationships don’t always go as planned. We might start with the best of intentions yet find ourselves far away from the path as time goes on. Whether you’re single, dating, divorced, or right on the brink of throwing in the towel, there are key principles we can take from scripture and apply to our current relationship journey. There are steps to take before calling it quits.‍

God takes our most painful moments and writes the most beautiful story

1. Get Wise Counsel

“I’ll figure it out myself” are the dying words of every relationship – this phrase limits us to our own wisdom when God has placed wise counsel all around us. While God’s word is what we should reach for first, there are additional resources available. Mentors, Christian therapists, books, conferences, or even retreats with our partner are great resources for adding wise counsel to our lives. Whatever we’re walking through, we can trust that God has given us what we need to overcome.

2. Communication is Everything

One of the most important things we can do in our relationships is to learn to communicate. The power of life and death lies in the tongue – but it’s not only what we say, it’s how we say it. There are right and wrong ways to share what’s on our mind and in our heart. Do our words build our partner up? Does our tone cut them down? What are we saying with our actions? No matter our relationship status, the way we communicate makes all the difference in building relationships that go the distance.

Marriage is not about solving one problem, it’s about two people resolving to solve problem after problem together. Before we throw in the towel, it’s worth considering the consequences of our decision – like a row of dominos, one choice impacts hundreds that follow. In a world that’s quick to call it quits, we can consecrate our marriage to God, putting our relationship in His hands. He takes the most painful moments and writes the most beautiful story.