From "I Do" to Forever: How to Maintain a Strong Foundation Beyond the Honeymoon

What happens when the honeymoon phase fades and real life begins? The journey to lasting love requires more than just surviving the transition—it demands intentional cultivation of a relationship rooted in something deeper than feelings alone.

Marriage isn't about perfection but partnership. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 13, we explore how patience, kindness, and selflessness become the foundation stones of a relationship that withstands life's pressures. When dishes pile up and work hours stretch long, the fairy tale feeling may shift, but that's precisely when true intimacy has the opportunity to grow. Couples who successfully navigate this transition understand that love expressed in mundane moments—choosing to serve, listen, and stay connected—builds something far more beautiful than the initial excitement.

The metaphor of marriage as a garden reveals profound truth about relationship maintenance. Like tending plants that need consistent care, marriages require daily attention from both partners. Small gestures matter enormously: a husband leaving encouraging sticky notes on his wife's coffee cup, couples asking heart-level questions instead of just discussing logistics, partners praying together rather than just for each other. These seemingly minor actions water the relationship garden, preventing the weeds of miscommunication and distance from taking root. Even physical intimacy, designed by God as a sacred unifying experience, thrives when approached with intentionality and grace.

What distinguishes marriages that flourish from those that wither? The key lies in Ecclesiastes 4:12—"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." When God forms that crucial third strand, couples access grace beyond their limited human capacity. Join us next week as we explore practical approaches to date nights that keep your God-centered marriage vibrant. Have questions or topics you'd like us to discuss? We'd love to hear from you!

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Episode Transcript

Renee Richel (00:07):
Hi, I'm Renee Richel, the founder and
president of 1 True Match.
I'm here to help you find andcultivate the love of your life.
For over a decade I'vededicated my life to the
importance, purpose and dynamicof human relationships.
My team and I are disciplinedby faith, love and integrity to
help our clients find thequality relationship they've

(00:28):
always dreamt of.
Each week, I will be sharingthe tools and tips I've learned
that have rooted my success as amatchmaker with other leaders
around the world.
Hello, Loves, welcome back.
I am so excited about today'stopic From I do to forever how

(00:50):
to maintain a strong foundationbeyond the honeymoon.
Before we dive into today'stalk, I just want to say I hope
you had a phenomenal and blessedEaster.
I pray you spent time in God'spresence, surrounded by people
who love you, and that you werereminded of the beauty and power

(01:11):
of the resurrection of Jesus.
There's something about Easterthat feels like a reset.
It's a gentle reminder that,because Jesus is alive, we can
walk in new life, new joy andnew strength in every part of
our lives, including ourmarriages.

(01:33):
So today we're going to talkabout what happens after the
wedding bells fade, after thehoneymoon photos are posted and
the routine of daily life begins.
How do we keep building a godlymarriage that lasts?
Whether you're in a season ofnewlywed bliss, learning to

(01:55):
adjust to marriage, or workingthrough a rough patch, or
preparing your heart for yourfuture spouse, today's episode
is for you.
So many couples come into ourcommunity with the most
beautiful wedding stories anddreamy beginnings, but they all

(02:15):
say the same thing At some pointthe spark of the honeymoon fade
gives way to the reality ofeveryday life.
One couple shared with me mostrecently that a few months into
their relationship, the wifefound herself feeling a little
overwhelmed.
Dishes were piling up, theywere both working long hours and

(02:39):
that fairytale feeling startedto shift.
It wasn't about a majorconflict, but just the weight of
life's responsibilities.
She looked around and thoughtthis is marriage.
But it led to an honest,grace-filled conversation
between them and a deeperunderstanding that love is more

(03:03):
than just a feeling.
It's a daily commitment.
1 Corinthians 13 reminds us thatlove is patient, kind and not
self-seeking.
Marriage isn't about perfection, it's about partnership, and
it's in those mundane momentswhen you're choosing to serve,

(03:26):
listen and stay connected, realintimacy begins to grow.
Over the years, as a matchmaker, I have seen such a difference
between couples who invite Jesusinto their marriage and those
who try to do it in their ownstrength.
When Christ is in the center,you're not just relying on each

(03:48):
other's limited love.
You're anchored in God'sunlimited grace.
One of my favorite verses ofmarriage is in Ecclesiastes 4:12
.
A cord of three strands is notquickly broken.
That third strand, god, is whatstrengthens the entire bond.

(04:10):
I often tell couples don't justpray for your spouse, pray with
your spouse.
Allow God to lead yourconversations, your decisions,
your healing.
There's a different level ofpeace that comes when your
foundation is built on him.

(04:31):
It's a peace that only heprovides.
Emotional intimacy doesn'thappen overnight.
It's built through intentionalcommunication.
One couple I worked withrealized they had been talking
every day but not really hearingeach other.
They were managing thelogistics of life bills,

(04:54):
schedules, errands but theyweren't checking in emotionally.
So I gave them the challengeask each other one heart level
question every day what made youfeel love today or what's
something that's been weighingon you?
They came back and told methose conversations sparked a

(05:17):
closeness they haven't felt inmonths.
James 1:19 tells us to be quickto listen, slow to speak and
slow to become angry.
Listening with the goal ofunderstanding, not fixing, is
one of the greatest gifts youcan give in a marriage.

(05:37):
Something I love remindingcouples of is that pursuit
shouldn't stop after the wedding.
Romance in marriage doesn'thave to be grand gestures.
It's often the little thingsthat say I still choose you.
One of the sweetest stories Iheard recently came from a

(06:02):
husband who started writing onesentence of encouragement on a
sticky note every morning beforework and leaving it on his
wife's coffee cup.
She told me it became herfavorite part of every day.
Whether it's a handwritten note, an intentional compliment or

(06:23):
simply being present, smallefforts or acts of service go a
long way.
Marriage is a garden and itflourishes when you keep
watering it.
At the beginning, the garden ofa marriage is often full of
excitement and beauty, just likethe early days of planting

(06:45):
something new.
But over time, if we don't tendto it, the weeds of life,
stress, distractions ormisunderstandings can creep in.
Marriage needs consistent care,attention and practice, just as
plants need the right amount ofwater, sunlight and nourishment

(07:07):
need the right amount of water,sunlight and nourishment.
A marriage thrives when bothpartners actively invest in it.
When we water our marriage withlove, kindness and intentional
effort, we watch it grow andblossom in ways we didn't expect
.
Just like a garden, it takestime and patience.
Sometimes we may face seasonsof drought, but if we keep

(07:32):
showing up and continue toinvest, our marriage will
flourish in the long run.
A garden doesn't grow on itsown, and neither does a lasting
marriage.
It takes daily care, awillingness to nurture and, most
importantly, a heart committedto seeing it thrive.

(07:55):
When we prioritize our marriageand keep tending to it, it will
bear the fruit of connection,intimacy and deep trust will
bear the fruit of connection,intimacy and deep trust.
Now let's talk about physicalintimacy, because, yes, god
cares about that part of ourmarriage too.
I've had so many couples openup about the challenges in this

(08:17):
area.
Sometimes life gets in the wayKids, stress, exhaustion and
that physical connection getspushed to the background.
But physical intimacy wasdesigned by God to be sacred and
a unifying experience.
It's not taboo or shameful.
Sex is a beautiful thing, agift from the Lord meant to be

(08:41):
enjoyed with your spouse in asafe and wholly confined of
marriage.
Genesis 2:25 says they wereboth naked and they felt no
shame.
That's about more than justphysical vulnerability.
It's about safety, trust andcloseness when couples make time

(09:04):
to nurture both emotion andphysical connections, their bond
deepens.
And if you're in a season wherethis area feels strained, I
just want to encourage you.
It's okay to talk about it.
It's okay to pray about it.
God isn't uncomfortable withyour intimacy.
He created it.

(09:24):
Bring him into that space andbe patient with each other as
you rebuild that connection.
At the end of the day, marriageisn't about having it all
figured out.
It's about two people who arewilling to keep showing up,
growing, forgiving and lovingeach other with the grace

(09:49):
they've received from God.
Whether you're months ordecades in, there's always more
to discover about your spouseand more that God wants to do in
your relationship.
Keep inviting him in, keephaving the hard and holy
conversations and keep choosingeach other.

(10:12):
Thank you for spending timewith me today.
If this episode spoke to you,share it with your friends,
leave us a review or tag us @ 1True Match on Instagram.
We love hearing your stories.
I'm praying that your marriagewould be full of joy, wisdom and

(10:32):
unwavering intimacy rooted inChrist.
Until next time, keep lovingboldly and continuously,
allowing God to lead the way.
Next week, we are going to talkabout date night and beyond
keeping the spark alive in aGod-centered marriage.
I'm going to love and leave youand hope you have a blessed
week.
I cannot wait for our next chat.

(10:54):
It's been another great talk onthis episode of 1 True Talks by
Renee Richel.
I look forward to our next chat.
Please write in your questionsand comments so I can be sure to
talk about whatever it is youwant to discuss in our next
upcoming episode.

(11:14):
Lots of Love, God Bless.
XOXO.