Emotions in marriage aren’t the enemy—they’re God-given tools meant to stir your heart toward action, deeper intimacy, and meaningful connection. In this episode of Expedition Marriage, Chris & Jamie dive into some common powerful emotions that, when understood and embraced biblically, can strengthen your relationship and reignite passion. You’ll discover how emotions like frustration, fear, sadness, and even boredom can become catalysts for growth, healing, and renewed love.

🧭 What You’ll Learn:

• How to use frustration as a signal for healing instead of division
• Why fear in your relationship can be a sign you’re growing
• How sadness and regret can lead to deeper restoration and closeness
• Why longing for beauty and connection in your marriage is godly
• How to recognize and respond to righteous anger and protect your marriage
• How emotions are designed by God to draw you closer, not pull you apart

📖 Scripture References:

• Ephesians 4:26 – “In your anger do not sin.”
• Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you.”
• Ecclesiastes 3:4 – “A time to weep and a time to laugh.”
• Nehemiah 4:14 – “Fight for your families…”
• Philippians 4:8 – “Whatever is lovely… think about such things.”
• Ecclesiastes 9:9 – “Enjoy life with your wife…”
• 2 Corinthians 7:10 – “Godly sorrow brings repentance…”

💬 Reflection Questions:

• Which emotion is currently showing up in your marriage?
• Have you been avoiding it, or using it in a way that draws you closer?
• How might God want to use that emotion to transform your relationship?

📣 Don’t Miss:

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend or leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! Every share helps more couples find hope and healing through Christ.

🧭 Follow-Up:

Explore more ways to build your marriage at ExpeditionMarriage.org and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Closing Reminder: A great marriage isn’t found—it’s built. One intentional step at a time.

Marriage is a lifelong journey that evolves with each decade—and every season comes with both its own challenges and its unique purpose. In this episode, Chris & Jamie walk through the different decades of marriage—from the idealistic 20s to the legacy-filled 70s—and share biblical wisdom and practical encouragement for every stage. Whether you’re dreaming big, building hard, questioning what’s next, or leaving a legacy, this episode will help you embrace your season with grace, faith, and intentionality.

🧭 What You’ll Learn:

• What characterizes each decade of marriage and the purpose within it
• How to strengthen your relationship through every season—from early dreams to late wisdom
• Why your current season matters and how to fully show up for it
• Biblical encouragement and reflection questions for each stage

💡 Episode Highlights:

🧡 The Idealistic Years (20s) • Time of big dreams, passion, and possibilities • Don't let others stifle your optimism—dream and plan together

🔨 The Industrious Years (30s) • The building decade: careers, parenting, responsibilities • High-stress years—easy to feel like co-workers instead of lovers

🔥 The Intense Years (40s) • Questions of success, identity, and “Have we done enough?” • Increased financial and physical stress; watch for resentment

🕊️ The Influential Years (50s & 60s) • A time of wisdom, mentoring, and dreaming new dreams—together • Warning: high divorce rate in this age group; stay connected

🌳 The Indelible Years (70s & beyond) • Storytelling season—your words and life hold deep meaning • Grandchildren watch how you finish the race

💬 Reflection & Encouragement:

• No season is wasted—each one has a God-given purpose • Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “To everything there is a season…” • Talk with your spouse: What season are you in? What do you need most from one another right now?

🎯 Call to Action:

• 📥 Download your free resource: Marriage Through the Decades Reflection Guide at https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-149-the-different-decades-of-marriage-every-season-has-a-purpose
• 👥 Share this episode with another couple—especially one in a different season than you
• ⭐ Leave a review if this episode encouraged you—it helps more couples find hope
• 🌐 Visit ExpeditionMarriage.org for more free tools, blog posts, and resources

Closing Reminder: A great marriage isn’t found—it’s built. One intentional season at a time. Until next time—keep showing up, keep leaning in, and keep trusting God with your journey.

When it comes to parenting, most couples focus on discipline strategies, school choices, and managing behavior. But what if one of your most powerful parenting tools isn’t a strategy at all—but your marriage itself?

In this episode, we’ll show you how a Christ-centered, connected marriage naturally overflows into your parenting. The way you love, communicate with, and treat your spouse is constantly shaping what your children believe about love, respect, and relationships.

💬 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why your marriage is your greatest influence in your children’s lives
• How unresolved conflict between you and your spouse affects your kids—even when you think they don’t notice
• Why a healthy, grace-filled relationship teaches more than your words ever could
• How to model faith, love, and security in your home without needing to be perfect

📖 Want to Go Deeper?

Check out our YouVersion Bible Reading Plan: 👉 How to Use Your Marriage as Your Best Parenting Tool

This free 5-day plan will help you strengthen your marriage and see it as the gift God designed to bless your children.

📥 Resources:

• Visit expeditionmarriage.org for more marriage and parenting resources.

https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-148-how-to-use-your-marriage-as-your-best-parenting-tool/

🎯 Call to Action:

• After listening, ask each other: “What are our kids learning about relationships from us right now?”
• Share this episode with a couple who needs encouragement in their parenting journey.
• Subscribe and leave a review to help more couples discover Expedition Marriage.

Let’s raise strong children by building strong marriages.

How to Co-Regulate in Marriage and Become Each Other’s Safe Place

Ever feel like you and your spouse are constantly missing each other emotionally? In this episode, we’re talking about the powerful (but often overlooked) practice of co-regulation—and how it can transform your marriage into a place of emotional safety, healing, and connection.

We'll explore what it means to not just regulate your own emotions but to be a calm, supportive presence for your spouse—and how this reflects the love and comfort of Christ in your marriage.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• ✅ What co-regulation is (and how it’s different from self-regulation)
• 💔 How emotional disconnection and little “t” traumas show up in everyday marriage moments
• 📖 The biblical foundation for becoming a safe place: Galatians 6:2, Proverbs 17:17, Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, Romans 12:10
• 💡 Real-life examples of how co-regulation can show up in your marriage
• 🛠 Practical steps to create emotional safety and healing—without needing to fix everything
• ❤️ Why your tone, presence, and patience may be the most healing tools you have

💬 Quote from the Episode: "There’s enough loss in the world—let’s not contribute more of it in our homes."

🎯 Call to Action:

1. Try to implement co-regulation into your marriage this week: a soft word, your presence, or a listening ear. Tune yourself into your spouse. Look for ways to show up for them. Be the soft place for them to land in this harsh world.
2. Ask your spouse: “Do you feel emotionally safe with me?”—and truly listen.
3. Share this episode with a friend or couple who could use some emotional connection and support.
4. Visit expeditionmarriage.org for more tools, devotionals, and resources to build a safe and God-honoring marriage.

You don’t have to heal alone—and you weren’t designed to do marriage alone. Let’s build homes of safety and healing—together.

https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-147-safe-and-sound-how-to-co-regulate-in-marriage-and-become-each-others-safe-place

You’ve probably heard the phrase “leave and cleave” at some point—maybe in premarital counseling or during your wedding ceremony—but what does it actually mean in everyday married life?

In this episode, we unpack the biblical command to leave and cleave (Genesis 2:24) and explore how it goes far beyond the honeymoon stage. Whether you've been married one year or twenty, failing to fully “leave” and properly “cleave” can lead to emotional disconnection, blurred boundaries with parents, and lingering tension in your home.

We’re diving into:

• ✅ What leaving and cleaving actually means (spoiler: it’s not just about moving out!)
• 💡 How unresolved parent ties can affect your marriage for years
• 🔒 Why setting healthy boundaries with in-laws is not dishonoring
• ❤️ How to strengthen your unity as a couple and stand together as one

You’ll also hear practical examples, biblical wisdom, and simple steps to evaluate your own marriage in this area.

💬 Big Takeaway: Leaving and cleaving isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a lifelong practice of choosing your spouse above all others, and building a united front together.

📥 Don’t Forget to Grab the Free Resource! Download the Leaving & Cleaving Listener Reflection Guide—a helpful tool to assess your current boundaries, strengthen your unity as a couple, and create healthier in-law dynamics.

👉 Get the free guide in the show notes or at https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-146-leaving-and-cleaving-what-it-really-means-and-why-it-still-matters-in-marriage 

💬 Let’s Connect! If this episode challenged or encouraged you, we’d love to hear from you! Send us an email at email@expeditionmarriage, and don’t forget to share this episode with another couple who might need it.

⛈️ In This Episode:

What’s your marriage really built on?

In today’s episode, Chris and Jamie explore what it means to build a marriage that can withstand life’s storms. Drawing from Jesus’ words in Matthew 7, they’ll help you identify if you’ve unknowingly been building on shaky ground—and show you how to rebuild on the rock-solid truth of Christ.

Whether you're facing hardship right now or just want to prepare for whatever comes your way, this episode will give you biblical insight and practical steps to storm-proof your marriage.

📖 Scriptures Mentioned:

• Matthew 7:24–27 – Building on the rock
• Galatians 2:21 – Rejecting performance-based love
• Proverbs 3:5 – Trusting in God over worldly wisdom
• John 15:5 – Staying connected to Christ
• Ephesians 5:25–33 – Loving like Christ
• 1 Corinthians 13 – Living out godly love

🔍 You'll Learn:

• Why storms don’t have to destroy your marriage
• 3 subtle signs you’re building on the wrong foundation
• How to recognize and surrender self-reliant patterns
• Four practical ways to start rebuilding on Christ
• Why spiritual intimacy is key to long-term strength
• Real-life encouragement for couples in every season

💬 Reflection Questions:

• What storms have tested your marriage recently?
• Did they reveal any weak spots—or strengthen your foundation?
• What is one way you can re-center your marriage on Jesus this week?

📥 Resources & Next Steps:

👫 Talk with your spouse about what your marriage has been built on—and what step you’ll take together this week to build on Christ.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

Don’t forget to follow the show so you never miss an episode—and if today’s conversation encouraged you, please leave a quick review!

Have you ever found yourself snapping, shutting down, or numbing out—and not even sure why? You might be experiencing emotional flooding.

In this episode, Chris and Jamie unpack what emotional flooding is, how it silently impacts your marriage, and what you can do to find healthy release instead of letting it explode or bury you. Just like a 10-gallon bucket can only hold so much water, our hearts can only hold so many emotions before they spill over—and that overflow shows up in our marriages.

💥 In This Episode, We’ll Cover:

🔹 What emotional flooding is 🔹 Real-life signs your emotional bucket is full 🔹 Why some of us have “coffee cups” while others have “buckets” 🔹 Practical ways to poke holes in your bucket before it spills

📖 Biblical Encouragement:

“Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.” —Psalm 62:8

✅ Helpful Takeaways:

• Learn how to identify when you or your spouse are emotionally flooded
• Explore practical tools like walking, journaling, or talking it out
• Create space in your marriage for healthy emotional release and empathy
• Reframe emotional overload not as weakness—but as an invitation to connect

💛 Want More Support for Your Marriage?

Check out more free tools and biblical resources at ExpeditionMarriage.org

📌 Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review if this episode encouraged you!

https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-144-is-your-emotional-bucket-overflowing-how-to-recognize-and-release-emotional-flooding-in-marriage/

Most couples say they’re Christians—but is Jesus truly at the center of their marriage, or just a guest? In this episode, Chris and Jamie explore what it really means to orient your life and marriage around Christ, not just in name, but in everyday action.

We’re unpacking the difference between a marriage that’s influenced by Jesus and one that’s built on Jesus. You’ll learn how to recognize if your relationship is drifting from Him, and practical ways to bring it back on course.

📊 Did you know that while about 65% of Americans claim Christianity, only 4% actually reorient their lives around Jesus? It’s time to make sure our marriages aren’t just labeled “Christian”—but are truly Christ-centered.

🔹 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What it means to truly “orient” your life around Jesus
• Signs that Jesus may not be the true center of your marriage
• 5 practical steps to re-center your marriage on Christ
• Why individual spiritual growth matters in a united relationship
• How prayer, scripture, and community can realign your foundation
• A simple weekly question to help keep your marriage from drifting

📖 Key Scriptures Mentioned:

• Matthew 7:24–27 — Building your house on the rock
• Colossians 3:17 — Doing everything in the name of Jesus
• John 15:4–5 — Abide in Christ to bear lasting fruit
• Romans 12:1–2 — Be transformed by renewing your mind

✅ Your Challenge This Week:

Take time with your spouse to answer this question together: “Where in our marriage are we oriented toward Jesus—and where are we not?” Pray together, invite God into the areas that need realignment, and commit to taking one step forward in making Him the true cornerstone of your marriage.

🔗 Resources & Next Steps:

🐦‍⬛ Bird Feeder with Solar Powered Camera - https://amzn.to/4npdPHj

📖 Newlywed Couples Devotional - https://amzn.to/3Qn9XpB 

🎧 Listen & Subscribe Don’t miss a single episode! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube

📬 Get more biblical tools for your marriage: Visit us at https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-143-is-jesus-just-a-guest-in-your-marriage

What do you do when it feels like you’re the only one fighting for your marriage? Maybe your spouse is emotionally checked out, spiritually distant, or just seems unwilling to grow alongside you.

This episode is for the one carrying the weight, wondering if anything is ever going to change. We want you to know: you are not alone, and your faithfulness matters.

Let’s talk about what to do when you're walking this path solo—and how to keep going without giving up.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What Scripture says about standing firm when your spouse won’t engage
• The difference between enabling and faithfully loving
• How to keep your heart soft when you're tempted to shut down
• Encouragement to pursue connection with God when your spouse feels far away
• Healthy boundaries, grace-filled hope, and the power of persistent prayer

📖 Scripture Encouragement:

• Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not grow weary in doing good…”
• 1 Peter 3:1 – “...that they may be won over without words…”
• Isaiah 41:10 – “I will strengthen you and help you…”
• Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

🙏 Free Prayer Resources:

Whether you're a wife or husband standing in the gap, persistent prayer can change the atmosphere in your home—even before anything else does.

🧡 Join the 30-Day Praying for Your Husband Challenge 💙 Join the 30-Day Praying for Your Wife Challenge

These guided prayer journeys will give you daily direction, encouragement, and a reminder that you're not in this alone.

https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-142-when-youre-fighting-for-your-marriage-alone

❤️ Episode CTA:

If you're fighting for your marriage alone, take heart: your prayers are powerful, your love is not unseen, and God is with you in the waiting.

Let this be the week you surrender your spouse to God and recommit to loving them through His strength, not just your own. And don’t forget to grab one of our 30-day prayer challenges to support you on the journey.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone else who may feel alone in their marriage too.

Have you ever felt like you’re just done waiting for things to get better in your life or marriage? Maybe you’ve been praying —but nothing seems to be changing. In this episode, we’re talking about what to do when your patience runs out and how to restore wonder, faith, and trust in God’s timing.

You’ll discover how to wait well, what scripture teaches about patience and frustration, and how to keep your heart soft instead of bitter while you’re in the middle of the “not yet.”

Because God isn’t just working on your spouse—He’s doing something in you, too.

💡 In This Episode, We Cover:

• What losing patience can reveal about our expectations and fears
• Why wonder matters in marriage (even when things feel stuck)
• Biblical wisdom for waiting well and walking in faith
• How to hold on to hope without trying to force change
• Practical steps for renewing your mindset and heart in the waiting

📝 Download the Free Self-Reflection Guide:

Want to dig deeper this week? We’ve created a companion PDF guide with reflection and prayer prompts to help you reconnect with God and your heart during this season.

👉 [Click here to download the self-reflection guide] https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-141-learning-to-wait-well-patience-faith-and-gods-timing-in-marriage/

📖 Scripture Mentioned:

• Proverbs 19:11
• Ecclesiastes 3:1
• Romans 8:25
• Galatians 6:9

❤️ Episode CTA:

Don’t give up. Don’t check out. Your waiting season might just be where God is doing His most beautiful work. Download the reflection guide, spend time with the Lord, and invite Him to restore your wonder again.

And as always—share this episode with a friend who might be growing weary in their own marriage journey.