4 Ways to Increase Emotional Intimacy in Your MarriageSample

Day 4: Have the right conversations at the right time

Conflict is inevitable in a marriage, and the way you process it with your spouse matters. If we think back to yesterday’s reading about the “protective fence” of marriage, that carries over into the way we handle conflict in a marriage as well.

If you have an issue, you need to talk it out with your spouse first. It’s not fair to your husband or wife to talk about your issues with other people when you haven’t even talked about it together yet. Think about it – would you want them to do that to you?

This doesn’t mean you can’t turn to other important people in your life for advice. There's a time and place for wisdom from friends and family. Sometimes, an outside perspective can help! Just don't use it as an excuse to gripe about your spouse or seek validation.

When you sit down for these crucial conversations, follow the advice we see in Proverbs 15:1 - “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”

How can you and your spouse communicate with understanding and patience, even in times of conflict?