Strengthening Your Marriage During COVID19 — 10 Tips

Finding Confidence in the Midst of Crisis

As we navigate together through unfamiliar waters, I’d like you to have hope during these uncertain times. Many of us are working at home alongside our spouse, changing the dynamic of how we relate to each other.  Some of us have found absence may not make the heart grow fonder.

Storms catch us off guard. Before we realize it, we’ve plunged into the new reality of unfamiliar emotions and disruption of our daily rituals and activities.

But there is hope. If we see the storm approaching, we may have time for preemptive adjustments. 

Distress and anxiety are real. It’s okay to not be okay.

Distress and anxiety are real. It’s okay to not be okay.

Get more — Free! e-booklet — Les Parrott's Making Happy

I encourage you to:

1. Normalize Different
   Life is different. We are missing our routines and the people in our lives. Focus on what you can do, not what you can’t do.
2. Don’t Catastrophize
   Remember, you’ve been through tough times before. What were you worried about? What were your spiritual practices? What got you through those circumstances? Put things in perspective: Missing a massage appointment is an inconvenience, not a problem. Your favorite restaurant is closed; that’s an inconvenience. You can’t meet your friend for coffee; that’s an inconvenience. Your spouse woke up with a fever and cough; that’s a problem. That said, the crisis we’re all experiencing — it’s hard. Really hard.
3. Give your Spouse Space
   You both need alone time: to process; to pray; to decompress. Gifting your spouse with time — a temporary release from responsibility and routine — can be an enormous blessing.
4. Name it —Don’t hide it
   Put words to the feelings. Sad, scared, uncomfortable, frustrated, angry, denial, lack of motivation — Grief. Most of us are experiencing a loss of sameness, connection, safety, financial security, and control. We are uncertain about the future.
5. Stay Connected
   Look around you. Who needs a kind word or compassion? Who needs you to listen? Ask others how they are coping. Maintain physical distance, but stay connected. Be creative. For example, stay connected through video platforms.
6. Pray
   Prayer is always a priority, but especially in unprecedented times like these. Do you pray with your spouse? If not, now is the time to start. Praying together for your marriage and family is the most intimate thing you can do together.
7. Create a Sense of Accomplishment
   Structure and plan your days. How can you make your downtime productive? What projects have you put off? How about changing up your routine?
8. Keep a Journal
   When blessings show up, even small ones, record them. Make a list of the things you can’t control; take 5-10 minutes to name them. What are the things today you do have control of, things you can accomplish today? Remember those feelings.
9. Don’t forget Date Nights
   Okay, cross off movies, restaurants, and climbing walls. That’s a new reality. Get creative — focus on what you can do. For inspiration, subscribe to our Weekly Date Night Ideas.  Netflix is not the only option.
10. Breathe
    Check out the scriptural mindfulness app, Abide or the YouTube video, Stilling the Mind: Freedom from Worry by the Mindful Christian.

May God bless you and protect you, and may you sense His peace that passes understanding during these challenging days.

… He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection. Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day. Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness, nor the disaster that strikes at midday …  Psalm 91:4-6

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.  Numbers 6:24-26

Copyright © 2020 Jim Mueller. All Rights Reserved.