The Long Game: Thriving When Marriage Gets Tough

The most beautiful love stories aren't the ones without conflict, but those where couples choose to stay and grow through the hard seasons. In this powerful season finale of our marriage season, we're tackling what it truly means to play the long game in marriage. Marriage isn't just merging schedules and living spaces, it's merging wounds, dreams, habits, and faith journeys. Two imperfect people trying to love like Jesus did. When that journey gets rocky, it doesn't mean you've failed; it means you're in the process of becoming something beautiful together.

Renee shares intimate advice about recommitting to your spouse beyond just anniversary celebrations. Those small moments—a whispered prayer in the kitchen asking God for strength to choose love today, or holding your partner's hand and saying "I still choose you despite knowing more of your flaws now"—these are the threads that strengthen the fabric of lasting love. Remember, God specializes in resurrection. What feels numb can be made new; what feels stale can become sacred again.

Your marriage has purpose beyond your happiness. It's a kingdom partnership, a testimony to God's faithfulness, and a legacy that influences everyone around you. When you shift from a sprint mentality to a marathon mindset, you stop asking "how do I win this fight?" and start asking "how do we fight for each other and what we're building together?" That's when breakthrough happens.

Whether you're newly married, celebrating your tenth anniversary, or navigating a tough season right now, this episode offers faith-filled perspective to help you stay the course. Subscribe for our upcoming dating series, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement in their marriage journey. God isn't finished with your love story yet.

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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 hope you have had a powerfuland incredible week.

(00:48):
I'm excited to get into thisnext topic that we're going to
talk about the long game,choosing commitment when
marriage feels hard.
Today's episode is extraspecial because it is the season
finale of the marriage series.
Can we just take a moment tocelebrate what God has done

(01:10):
through this journey?
Whether you're newly married,walking through year 10, or
navigating a tough season, thisseries has been all about
pouring faith, truth and freshperspectives into your
relationship, and what betterway to close out this chapter

(01:31):
than with today's theme?
In this episode, we're talkingabout what it looks like to
renew your vows and reigniteyour connection, how to serve
God side by side as a couple andhow to adopt a marathon mindset
in a world that's all aboutquick fixes.

(01:53):
If you've been looking forencouragement to stay the course
, to deepen your commitment andto run this race together with
joy commitment and to run thisrace together with joy this one
is for you.
So grab your coffee or tea andlet's dive in.
Marriage is one of the greatestgifts God gives us.
However, it is not without itschallenges.

(02:16):
It stretches us, it refines usand it also humbles us.
You're not just mergingschedules and living spaces.
You're merging wounds, dreamsand habits, expectations and
faith, journeys Two imperfectpeople trying to come together

(02:36):
and love, like Jesus did.
So if you're in the season thatfeels dry or difficult, I want
you to hear me clearly.
Difficult does not mean broken.
It means you're in the process.

In Ecclesiastes 4 (02:52):
9- 10, it reminds us two are better than
one.
If either of them falls, theone will lift up his companion.
So when marriage feels hard, itis not a sign to run.
It is an invitation to lean in,lean into God, lean into grace,

(03:16):
lean into each other.
You are not alone is the bestnews.
God is with you in the messymiddle and he's not finished
writing your story.
Let's talk about recommitting.
Renewing your vows isn't justfor milestone anniversaries.
It's something we should do inour hearts regularly, especially

(03:38):
when things feel tough.
Sometimes it's a whisperedprayer you say to yourself in
the kitchen God, help me chooselove today.
Sometimes it's holding handswith your spouse and saying I
still choose you.
I've seen more of your flawsnow, but I've also seen your

(04:02):
growth and I choose thiscovenant again.
If you feel distant, if youfeel like that spark is fading,
don't be discouraged.
God is in the business ofresurrection.
What feels numb can be made new, what feels stale can be made

(04:23):
sacred.
This week, I challenge you tocarve out intentional time with
your spouse.
Remember couch talk, share yourheart, talk about the early
days, pray together and, if youfeel led, renew your vows in
your own way.
Just the two of you with theLord.

(04:44):
Here's something I love toremind my couples Marriage and
ministry go hand in hand.
Your marriage is not just aboutyou.
It's about how God wants to useyour union to bless others.
And you and your spouse are notjust partners in bills and

(05:05):
bedtime routines.
You are also co-workers in thekingdom of the Lord.
Develop a kingdom marriagemindset today.
Ask yourself where is Godcalling us to serve?
What burdens our heartstogether?
How can we encourage othersthrough our stories?

(05:28):
How can we encourage othersthrough our stories?
Maybe it's leading a smallgroup, helping couples in chaos,
serving your youth, or justbeing faithful in prayer and
generosity.
Whatever it looks like, whenyou serve together, something
powerful happens.
Your unity deepens, yourpurpose becomes shared.

(05:49):
Your marriage can be atestimony of God's love for the
world, leaving a legacy of loveand faith.
This part always touches myheart, because legacy is
everything.
Even if you don't have children, your marriage still tells a
powerful story, a story thatinfluences friends, family,

(06:10):
community and future generationsin ways you may not even
realize.
People will remember yourfaithfulness through challenges,
your grace and forgiveness andyour steadfast love when life
gets tough.
Steadfast love when life getstough.

(06:35):
In Psalms 78:4, it says we willnot hide them from their
children.
We will tell the nextgeneration the praiseworthy
deeds of the Lord.
While this speaks to children,the principle extends beyond
bloodlines.
It's about passing on a legacyof faith and love to those
around you.
Your marriage is shaping lives.

(06:55):
Every choice to lovesacrificially, every moment
spent in prayer together, everyact of surrender, it all is
leaving a mark.
Love always leaves a mark, andremember that.
So don't just think about today.
Consider how your love storyinspires others and points them

(07:19):
back to Christ.
The marathon mindset Marriageisn't a spirit, it's a marathon.
And marathon runners don't justquit when their legs get tired.
They focus on the finish line.
A marathon mindset says this isbigger than today's argument.
I'm committed even when I don'tfeel connected.

(07:42):
I'm in it for the long haul,not just the honeymoon.
I'm going to love all of myspouse, despite their worst days
.
When you shift your mindset,you stop asking how do I win
this fight and you start askinghow do we fight for each other

(08:04):
and what we're building together?
And that's when thebreakthrough happens.
That's when love flourishes andgrows deeper than what you
could ever imagine.

In Galatians 6 (08:16):
9,.
It encourages us.
Let us not grow weary in doinggood, for at the proper time we
will reap a harvest if we do notgive up.
That is huge.
Don't give up, even if it feelsslow or hard, even if you're in

(08:41):
mile 15 and everything isaching, you're not running alone
.
God is pacing you, he is withyou and he's already marked the
finish line.
So remember he's got this Leaninto him.
So, in conclusion, as we wrap upthis season, I want to

(09:04):
sincerely thank you for walkingthis journey with me.
You've made room for truth,growth and grace, and I truly
believe God is honoring yourpursuit of him in your marriage.
Let me pray over you, father.
Thank you for every couplelistening right now, for every

(09:26):
weary heart, every love feelingdistant and every marriage
hanging by a thread.
Please breathe new life intothem, renew their strength,
restore their intimacy andreignite their purpose.
May their marriage stand astestimonies of your goodness and

(09:48):
faithfulness.
Help them run the race, notstriving for perfection, but for
your glory, in Jesus' name,amen.
That's a wrap for our marriageseason.
This isn't goodbye.
It's a fresh beginning.
Keep running your race, keeploving on purpose and keep

(10:11):
trusting that God is intricatelyworking in every part of your
love story.
In every part of your lovestory.
If this season has blessed you,please share it with somebody
who is in need of hearing all ofthis, and don't forget to
subscribe, because the nextseason is just around the corner
, with even more encouragementand insight for those walking

(10:34):
the journey of dating.
Until next time, stay healthy,stay encouraged and, above all,
stay in love.
Have a blessed week and Icannot wait for our next chat.
It's been another great talk onthis episode of One True Talks

(10:56):
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.
Lots of Love, God Bless.
XOXO.