489-Harshness to Beautiful Kindness: Marriage Encouragement with Rhonda Stoppe
Delight Your Marriage
Marriage is one of the greatest blessings — and one of the greatest refining processes — we can experience. But if we're honest, many of us carry regrets when it comes to how we've treated our spouse, how we've handled conflict, or the words we've spoken in frustration. We don't always recognize how often harshness sneaks into our marriage, chipping away at intimacy, connection, and joy. But here's the good news: God's love can heal, restore, and transform even the most regret-filled moments in your relationship. In a recent conversation with author and speaker Rhonda Stoppe, we unpacked...
info_outline
488-Wives, Pleasure Is An Important Part of Life (Really!)
Delight Your Marriage
Wives, Pleasure Is An Important Part of Life (Really!) If you're a wife who feels like physical intimacy just isn’t for you... this post is for you. Maybe you’ve been hurt in the past. Maybe sex feels awkward, or painful, or even meaningless. Maybe it seems like something only he wants, and you just go along with it. If any of that resonates, I want you to know: you're not broken. You're not alone. And there is hope. When Sex Feels Disappointing or Painful in Marriage When I first got married, I was so excited. I had saved myself for marriage and imagined physical intimacy would be...
info_outline
487-He Died to Himself and She Decided Intimacy Needed to Change: Rebekah's Story
Delight Your Marriage
He Died to Himself and She Decided Intimacy Needed to Change: Rebekah's Story Rebekah didn’t sign up for marriage coaching. She wasn’t looking for help. In fact, when her husband first discovered us, she politely declined any involvement. He had found the podcast and was quietly listening, learning, and applying. She wasn’t ready. But he didn’t push. He didn’t demand. He just loved her. And that—his sacrificial, consistent, Christlike love—is what eventually opened her heart. When the Husband Leads and Goes First “He died to himself,” Rebekah said, describing her husband...
info_outline
486-How a Strong Identity Defeats Shame: Interview With Pastor Drew Hyun
Delight Your Marriage
How a Strong Identity Defeats Shame: Interview With Pastor Drew Hyun Maybe you're a leader in your church, a high achiever at work, or a dedicated family man—but deep inside, you feel the sting of shame. Maybe it's from mistakes in your past, struggles in your present, or simply the pressure of not living up to what you think you should be. Here’s the good news: you don’t have to carry it anymore. Pastor Drew Hyun—lead pastor of Hope Church NYC and executive director of Emotionally Healthy Discipleship—shares how God’s love offers a radical solution. Not just theologically, but...
info_outline
485-Strength from Suffering
Delight Your Marriage
Strength from Suffering Let me start with this: the enemy wants you to believe that when hard things happen, you're done for. You’re weaker. You’re broken. That you can’t be used by God anymore. But that’s a lie. The truth is—God uses the hard things. He doesn’t waste our pain. In fact, Scripture tells us over and over again that it’s through trials that our faith, character, and hope are built. The God Who Sees You and Knows You Psalm 139 is one of my favorite passages because it’s such a clear reminder: God knows everything about you. He knows your name. He knows what...
info_outline
484-Love Jesus More Than Your Pain: Jennifer's Story
Delight Your Marriage
Sometimes, God answers your prayers in a way you don’t expect. That’s how Jennifer’s journey began. She and her husband had been married for 30 years, with three beautiful daughters. On the outside, everything seemed steady—but inside, Jennifer was silently struggling. Depression, anxiety, deep wounds from trauma, and the weight of parenting adult children had left her feeling exhausted and emotionally distant from her husband. She was in a dark place. But God. Her husband was the first to find Delight Your Marriage. Quietly, he joined our men's program. At first, he didn’t even tell...
info_outline
483-The Truth About Female Desire: Interview with Dr. Juli Slattery
Delight Your Marriage
If you’re a wife who loves God and loves your husband, but you’re wondering… Why don’t I want sex? Why does my husband want it more than I do? Am I broken for not desiring intimacy? …you’re in the right place. We want to remind you that you are not broken. You’re not alone. And God isn’t disappointed in you. In this conversation, we sit down with the incredible Dr. Juli Slattery—clinical psychologist, author of 14 books, and founder of —to talk about real struggles Christian wives face around intimacy, low desire, and how to walk toward healing with God’s help....
info_outline
483-The Truth About Female Desire: Interview with Dr. Juli Slattery
Delight Your Marriage
If you’re a wife who loves God and loves your husband, but you’re wondering… Why don’t I want sex? Why does my husband want it more than I do? Am I broken for not desiring intimacy? …you’re in the right place. We want to remind you that you are not broken. You’re not alone. And God isn’t disappointed in you. In this conversation, we sit down with the incredible Dr. Juli Slattery—clinical psychologist, author of 14 books, and founder of —to talk about real struggles Christian wives face around intimacy, low desire, and how to walk toward healing with God’s help....
info_outline
482-Loving Your Spouse Well When You Feel Down
Delight Your Marriage
Loving Well When You Feel Down Even the strongest marriages go through hard seasons. Whether you're facing emotional burnout, stress, or feeling spiritually distant, it's easy to feel like you have nothing left to give in your relationship. So how do you love your spouse when you feel depleted? This post is your quick “reset”—a reminder of what really matters in marriage and how to keep moving forward, even when your heart feels heavy. Why Your Marriage Matters in God’s Eyes Jesus gave us two commandments that anchor everything else: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul,...
info_outline
481-Church Scandals Aren’t Random: How Ignorance Paves the Way for More Harm
Delight Your Marriage
Church Scandals Aren’t Random: How Ignorance Paves the Way for More Harm A Funny, Painful Story (That’s Actually Very Relevant) Before we dive into heavy stuff, let me tell you a story. 4 weeks and 2 days ago... Picture this: I’m flat on my back, in the middle of the street, 20 feet away from a car that thankfully didn’t roll over me. I’m convinced something’s stabbing into my heart. Pain is shooting through my body in so many places. A kind lady rushes from her porch to help me hobble to safety while the ambulance is called. As I wait there's constant pain, but when I move in...
info_outlineStrength from Suffering
Let me start with this: the enemy wants you to believe that when hard things happen, you're done for. You’re weaker. You’re broken. That you can’t be used by God anymore.
But that’s a lie.
The truth is—God uses the hard things. He doesn’t waste our pain. In fact, Scripture tells us over and over again that it’s through trials that our faith, character, and hope are built.
The God Who Sees You and Knows You
Psalm 139 is one of my favorite passages because it’s such a clear reminder: God knows everything about you.
He knows your name.
He knows what you’re up against.
He even knows the number of hairs on your head.
Not only is God all-knowing and omnipresent—but He is with you in your heartache. He understands the depths of your pain. He is not far off.
When You're Facing Trouble-Lean in, Don't Run
In our home, we’ve gone through a season of back-to-back trials. Maybe you’re there too. But here’s what I’ve learned: running from pain doesn’t produce growth—leaning into it does.
Jesus promised us in John 16:33 that there would be trouble in this world. But He also promised us His peace. Not peace like the world gives—but peace in the midst of chaos.
Endurance is Grown in the Fire
I want you to really let this truth soak in:
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials… for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” – James 1:2–4
Another translation puts it this way: “Consider it an opportunity for great joy.” – NLT
It’s not automatic joy—it’s an opportunity. A choice. A lens to see your situation through.
That’s why we need Scripture deep inside us—it reframes the pain.
What Doesn't Kill You... Can Sanctify You
Yes, this is hard. But what if you started saying: “This is hard—and I love a challenge”?
God allows us to struggle so we can grow the muscles we need—just like a good father teaching a child to walk. He doesn't always swoop in. Instead, He gives us space to build spiritual endurance.
And when endurance grows? Character grows. Hope grows. That’s Romans 5. And hope, the Bible says, does not disappoint.
The Danger of Distraction in a Culture that Numbs
One of the biggest traps we face in hard seasons is distraction. Social media. TV. Scrolling. Escaping.
But that doesn’t heal. It delays. It numbs.
If we want to grow in God’s strength, we must lean in. Let the Scripture simmer in our hearts. Let the pain teach us.
What is the Gift in This Situation?
When things are hard, ask yourself: “What is the gift in this?”
Even if your spouse is rejecting you over and over again… what if this is the exact thing God is using to grow your spiritual resilience?
I tell my boys all the time, “You’re learning perseverance right now.”
And maybe, so are you.
You Can Grow in Love–Even When Marriage is Hard
Whether or not your spouse is loving you well right now, you can still choose to lean in. You can still love. Still serve.
Did you know that your brain actually releases happy chemicals when you serve someone else?
That means if you’re hurting—serving someone can literally make you feel better.
Final Thoughts
You have a choice today.
You can become bitter, cynical, disappointed in God—or you can say:
“God, I trust You. There’s something here I can’t see yet—but I know You’re good.”
We don’t get to tell God what He should’ve done. But we do get to trust that He’s a good Father.
And when we do that...
We find His peace, His presence, and His purpose—even in the midst of pain.
We are rooting for you. We know God has good things for you. And whatever is going on right now that seems to much to bear, know that God will, He WILL, use it for good.
With love,
The Delight Your Marriage Team
PS - If you're interested in healing your marriage and learning more about our programs, check out our FREE Masterclasses: Women's Masterclass & Men's Masterclass
PPS - Here is a quote from a recent graduate:
“Biggest struggles were with being unhappy, feeling hopeless about a positive future with him, not feeling accepted or seen, feeling like all he needed from me was physical intimacy and admiration but didn't care to know me or care about me. I felt unhappy and hopeless... (After Delighted Wife), I have had many celebratory moments! We are having more fun together, more intimacy in our sharing, much better physical intimacy...Now I enjoy spending time with him, look forward to dates and vacations, and we laugh and work things out together. I believe we are a great team! It's a miracle that we enjoy and like each other again."