Remember when you were dating—those extra drives across town, late-night phone calls, sweet notes, and the way you rearranged your whole schedule just to be together? Back then, sacrifice felt natural. But somewhere along the way, many couples lose that intentionality.

In this episode, we dive into what it means to rediscover sacrificial love in marriage—not as a duty, but as a reflection of Christ's love. From everyday acts of kindness to laying down pride and preferences, we'll unpack why sacrifice is foundational for intimacy, trust, and unity.

💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why couples often lose the art of sacrifice after marriage
• How sacrifice builds trust, intimacy, and a "we" mindset instead of "me vs. you"
• Practical, everyday ways to reignite sacrificial love
• The difference between being a doormat and choosing sacrificial love
• How reflecting Christ's love through sacrifice impacts your marriage, your children, and your witness to the world

📖 Scripture References

• John 15:12–13 — "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends."
• Ephesians 5:25 — "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."
• Romans 5:8 — "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
• John 13:35 — "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

🛠️ Practical Takeaways

• Put your phone down and give your spouse your full attention
• Do an errand your spouse dislikes
• Give up a preference to honor theirs
• Lay down pride and be the first to apologize
• Pray together even when life is busy

Challenge for the Week:
Choose one intentional act of sacrifice—big or small—for your spouse and see how it impacts your connection.

Big change isn't always what your marriage needs. In fact, sometimes the most powerful growth comes from the smallest, most consistent choices. In this episode, we talk about how to move the needle forward in your relationship—just 1% at a time—without the pressure of perfection.

💡 What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Why the pressure to fix everything at once leaves couples feeling stuck
• The power of compounding small actions and how they can transform your marriage over time
• How lofty expectations of perfection can sabotage intimacy
• Why it's essential to address sin like pride, anger, or bitterness—rather than just covering it up with good habits
• What "moving the needle" might look like practically in your home
• How to let go of guilt and shame and replace them with God's daily mercies

🛠️ Practical Takeaways

• Choose one small thing to do better this week (listen more attentively, speak a word of encouragement, offer a small act of service, say "I'm sorry").
• Remember: consistency, not perfection, creates change.

🎯 Resources & Next Steps

If this episode encouraged you, we'd love for you to:

• Share it with a friend.
• Leave us a review—it helps other couples find hope and practical help
• Visit ExpeditionMarriage.org for free resources

👉 And if you're ready for a guided plan to help you rebuild intimacy, safety, and connection in your marriage, check out our Restoring Connection Plan. As a special thank-you for listening, you can get 20% off using the code PODCAST20:
Click here to grab your plan

When your marriage is in a painful season, joy might feel like the last thing on your mind. But what if those small, lighthearted moments are not only possible—but essential for healing? In this episode, we're talking about why joy still matters in marriage, even when things hurt.

You'll discover how laughter, rest, and simply enjoying each other can soften hearts, reduce tension, and remind your relationship that hope is not lost.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• The reality of pain in marriage and how the brain processes emotional hurt as real and exhausting.
• Why joy is medicine—how laughter, fun, and rest release chemicals that calm stress and build safety.
• Biblical wisdom on joy, including Proverbs 17:22 ("A cheerful heart is good medicine") and Nehemiah 8:10 ("The joy of the Lord is your strength").
• Practical ways to bring joy back—from watching a funny movie to taking a break from "working" on everything and just being together.
• How choosing joy and rest builds resilience and reminds you that healing is still possible.

Scripture Encouragement

• Proverbs 17:22 – "A cheerful heart is good medicine."
• Nehemiah 8:10 – "The joy of the Lord is your strength."
• Psalm 16:11 – "In Your presence there is fullness of joy."

Call to Action

This week, don't focus only on what needs to be fixed—make space to simply enjoy each other. Recreate a joyful memory or try something lighthearted and new.

👉 If this episode encouraged you, share it with another couple who might need hope in their hard season. And if you haven't already, be sure to leave us a review—it helps more couples find the encouragement they need.

🔗 Visit ExpeditionMarriage.org for more resources, tools, and support to help your marriage thrive.