Would it be okay for me to ask my bride-to-be to get tested for infertility before we’re married? I can’t understand the current trend toward “intentional childlessness” or the apparent devaluation of children in our culture – in fact, I’ve wanted kids for as long as I can remember! I also believe that marriage, sex, …
Relationships & Marriage Q&As
What marriage assessment tools are available from Focus on the Family?
Is it normal for me to wish I wasn’t married to my spouse? I guess we still love each other, but married life doesn’t look anything like the hopes and dreams we had while we were dating. We’re getting worn down from the hardships and disappointments that seem to keep coming our way. How can …
Do you have any thoughts on the moral and spiritual implications of vasectomy and tubal ligation? For a number of reasons my spouse and I would like to eliminate the possibility of any future pregnancies. What are the pros and cons of these procedures?
Is the recovery and reconciliation process as difficult for an emotional affair as compared to infidelity involving sexual activity? What are the differences? My husband has twice become emotionally involved with a woman at our church. At the moment he’s still struggling and has asked for forgiveness, but I’m not sure what to do or …
Do you think it’s okay for me to talk about problems in my marriage with a Facebook friend of the opposite sex? The spark has gone out of my relationship with my spouse, and we always seem to be facing some kind of challenge. Sometimes I discuss this with my online friend, and he’s always …
How can I help my husband see that he is placing the needs and feelings of his parents ahead of mine? After several years of marriage, his attachment to his mom and dad is still so strong that it’s causing serious damage to our relationship. I’ve confronted him about this, but he doesn’t see it …
How do gender distinctions — psychological and emotional as well as physical and sexual — impact male-female relationships and the business of everyday life within the context of marriage? What do husbands and wives need to know about this subject, and how will that knowledge help them build a stronger marital bond?
Why do Christians need a church wedding and a piece of paper from the state to make their marriage “official”? My girlfriend and I are both dedicated believers and we intend to spend the rest of our lives together. We’ve been wondering why we should bother applying for a marriage license. Isn’t marriage a private, …
What should I do about my boyfriend’s “party friends”? He’s a great guy, and we’re considering a long-term relationship, but he insists on maintaining his connections with this group of people despite the fact that I totally disagree with everything about their lifestyle, behavior, and beliefs. My boyfriend and I try to embrace clean, positive, …
What’s the proper protocol for spouses when it comes to helping other people of the opposite sex with problems – especially problems of the marital variety? Sadly, my brother and his wife are in the process of divorcing. My sister-in-law called my husband the other night to see if he would meet with her to provide counseling …
I have some serious reservations about the friends my husband keeps in touch with from his college days. Some of these guys are married and some aren’t. They plan frequent “boys’ weekends,” and they also organize a lot of parties for special occasions. What concerns me is what goes on at these events. On a …
Do you have any recommendations for couples who find themselves owing a lot of money to a lot of different creditors? I’m not quite sure how it happened, but my spouse and I have come to the realization that we’re in deep debt and serious financial trouble. As you can imagine, this is putting a …
As a bride-to-be, how can I get past the struggle and disappointment I’m experiencing due to the fact that the man I’m marrying isn’t a virgin? I don’t hold this against him. In fact, I almost feel guilty for having these feelings because he is a devoted Christian, gentle and kind, and a man of …
Do you have any advice on how to deal with a relationally jealous and possessive mother? Though I’m a grown woman with young children of my own, my mom is still trying to control my life. I’d love to have a close, healthy relationship with her, but she demands more. In fact, she insists that …
Is there anything I can do to help my expectant wife deal with the severe mood swings she’s been experiencing? She’s about three-quarters of the way through her pregnancy, and lately she’s been terribly depressed. It’s beginning to take a real toll on our relationship. I’ve heard a lot about post-partum depression, but is it …
Is there a difference between forgiveness and reconciliation in a case of marital infidelity?
Can an atheist and a believer build a strong, lasting marriage? My girlfriend and I are terrific together. Her family loves me and everyone else says we’re the perfect couple. There’s just one catch: she’s a strong Christian, but I don’t believe in God at all. Do you think the religious differences between us pose …
Can you give me and my spouse some tips for relating to family members who don’t share our Christian faith? My in-laws aren’t believers, and this has sometimes led to awkward or difficult situations at family gatherings.
Is there anything a couple can do to strengthen their relationship prior to engagement? There’s a lot of material out there on pre-marital counseling, but not much on the pre-engagement process. How can you be sure you want to say “yes” when the person you’re dating starts to talk about marriage? What should a couple …
