7 Things Your Husband Would Love to Hear

by email@expeditionmarriage.org | Jun 12, 2025 | Articles, Featured Communication Resources, Intimacy & Connection, Marriage Communication

7 Things Your Husband Would Love to Hear

Husbands often get a reputation for being emotionally simple—but underneath their composed exterior, many of them wrestle with insecurities, feelings of failure, and the pressure to provide. As wives, we have the power to speak truth over those difficult areas and breathe confidence into their hearts.

Here are seven messages every husband wants and needs to hear from their wife:

“I believe in you.”

Even the most confident man needs to know his wife’s supports him and more importantly believes in him. Saying this lets him hear, “I see you. I trust you. I’m behind you all the way.”

“It’s okay to take time for yourself.”

Men often feel guilty about or dismiss their need to take care of themselves. Remind your husband that rest, hobbies, or time with friends isn’t selfish—it’s necessary for his well-being. Tell him it’s okay to take the time and then help him find the time to take.

“I appreciate your efforts.”

Too often, a husband’s hard work—both seen and unseen—goes unnoticed. A heartfelt “thank you” lightens his load and tells him his sacrifices matter. Your gratitude will go a long way.

“It’s okay to fail—you’re still capable.”

Many husbands fear failure more than anything. Let him know that mistakes don’t define him; they’re part of growth. Your encouragement gives him permission to try again. Want more on husbands and fear of failure? Check out https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-33-what-wives-need-to-know-about-husbands-and-failure/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

“I don’t hold the past against you.”

Release past hurts and truly let them go. When a husband knows he isn’t under continuous scrutiny, he’s more likely to live and love courageously. There’s a lot of power in forgiveness for both you and your husband.

2 More Things Every Husband Needs to Hear

“I respect the leader I see in you.”

Whether he’s leading prayers at the table or making tough calls at home, it matters when his wife acknowledges his role. Respect empowers him to step into his God-given calling with confidence—and paves the way for mutual submission and unity.

“I trust your heart.”

In a world that’s full of suspicion and pressure, telling your husband you believe in his intentions communicates security—and God-honoring trust. Letting your husband know that you believe he is for you and for what is good, will provide him relief from any burden of his character being doubted.

Why This Matters

Every kind word you give your husband will help form the foundation of his emotional resilience. When he hears these truths, especially from you:

He feels valued instead of overlooked
He’s more likely to rest in the safety of your marriage and your heart
His confidence in leadership and character grows
He’s empowered to love you and your family well

Letting your husband hear your heart—even in simple, everyday moments—can completely shift the atmosphere of your marriage. It doesn’t need to be grand: a note, a casual “thank you,” or a hug after a long day can say more than words ever could.

Want some handy reminders?

Download our “Encouraging Things to Say to Your Husband” cheat sheet—filled with easy, and hopefully authentic to you phrases that can create genuine connection (link here).

Next Step Challenge

Pick one of these seven truths and speak it to your husband this week. Maybe say it out loud, text it, or write it down—Be so genuine that he really feels it.

Marriage isn’t just about surviving—it’s about speaking life, grace, and love into the heart of the man who’s on this lifelong journey with you.

Is Your Marriage Settling for Relief Instead of Restoration?

by email@expeditionmarriage.org | May 5, 2025 | Articles, Intimacy & Connection, Marriage Recovery & Healing

Have you ever found yourself just wanting a little relief in your marriage?

Maybe the conversations have grown stale.
Maybe you’re feeling more like roommates than soulmates.
Or maybe it’s just been a long week, and the tension in your home feels heavy.

You’re not in crisis—but you’re not exactly thriving either.

In those moments, it’s easy to reach for relief. A movie night to avoid talking. Scrolling your phone to check out for a bit. A quick laugh or a busy schedule to distract you from the quiet disconnection.

But here’s the hard truth I was reminded of recently while listening to a podcast interview with John Eldredge:

“We’re constantly reaching for relief, when what we really need is restoration.”

6 milestones to celebrate in your marriage

That hit me.

Because relief—while comforting—is temporary. It’s surface-level. It makes us feel better for a moment but never truly heals anything.
Restoration, on the other hand, goes deeper. It brings things back to life. It revives what’s been slowly fading. It addresses the root, not just the symptoms.

And in marriage, we need restoration far more than we need temporary relief.

Even if your marriage isn’t in a crisis, it might be stuck in something just as dangerous: mediocrity, boredom, or quiet disconnection.

When we settle for relief in those moments, we risk growing numb to the slow drift between us. We start surviving instead of thriving. We accept fine when God has something far better in mind.

The good news? God is a God of restoration.

He doesn’t just patch things up—He makes all things new. (Revelation 21:5)
He doesn’t just want us to get through marriage—He wants us to flourish in it.

So if you’ve been feeling the pull toward surface-level solutions lately, let this be your gentle nudge:

Don’t stop at relief.

Press in for restoration.

Invite God into the quiet places of your marriage.
Have the honest conversations you’ve been putting off.
Ask Him to breathe new life into the parts that feel weary or routine.

Because your marriage was never meant to settle for just “getting by.”

It was created to reflect the beauty, grace, and restorative power of a God who brings dead things back to life.

And He’s not done writing your story.

Need help moving from relief to restoration?
Check out our free resources and counseling options at ExpeditionMarriage.org — we’re here to walk with you every step of the way.

Want a Closer Marriage? Start with a Closer Walk with God

by email@expeditionmarriage.org | Apr 16, 2025 | Articles, Christian Marriage, Intimacy & Connection

When you see a strong, connected marriage, you can be sure of one thing—it didn’t just happen by chance.

A closer marriage is the result of two people intentionally showing up for each other. It’s built in the daily choices: carving out time together, having meaningful conversations, laughing, forgiving, supporting one another through life’s highs and lows. That kind of closeness is a byproduct of connection—and that connection requires time and investment.

But here’s something we often forget: our relationship with God works the exact same way.

We can’t expect to feel close to our spouse if we’re not spending quality time with them. And in the same way, we can’t expect to feel close to God if we’re not regularly making space for Him in our lives. Time in prayer, in His Word, and simply being in His presence—it all matters. It shapes us.

And here’s why that connection to God is essential for a healthy marriage:

When we prioritize our relationship with God, we become better spouses. We grow in patience. We become more forgiving, more humble, and more loving—not because we’re trying harder, but because we’re being transformed by His Spirit. He changes us from the inside out.

That’s why a thriving marriage starts with a thriving faith.

Jesus put it this way in John 15:5 (NIV):

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

That fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness—is what feeds our marriage and sustains us through every season.

Without staying connected to the Vine, we wither… and our relationships suffer too.

So, if your heart is longing for a deeper connection in your marriage, start by drawing closer to Christ.
If you want to feel more united as husband and wife, begin by staying united with Him.

Because the closer you are to God, the closer you can become to each other.

Do you feel like you are all alone in your marriage?

Are your schedules so busy with work and taking care of your family that you are simply too tired to connect?

Wouldn't it be great if you could move from exhausted and alone to connected and supported?

To feel like you were part of a team?

Use Coupon Code: PODCAST20
for 20% off the regular price of $34.97

Find Out More

Your Phone Might Be the Devil’s Favorite Device in Your Life

by email@expeditionmarriage.org | Apr 14, 2025 | Articles, Intimacy & Connection, Parenting & Family

A Reflection on Distraction, Intimacy, and Taking Your Attention Back

My husband and I recently had one of those conversations—the kind that makes you stop and re-evaluate what’s quietly taking over your life. This time, it was about our phones.

We’d already started making some big changes in how we use them, but something about that conversation stirred something deeper in me. Out of curiosity, I looked up the definition of the word “device.” (Yes—on my phone, ironically enough.)

Here’s what I found:
A device is “a deceit or plan to trick.”

Oof. That one hit me, but also didn’t shock me.

Suddenly, I started to see things more clearly. How often is that “innocent” scroll really just a trap? How often does that little ding or buzz pull us away from what actually matters? The enemy is clever—he doesn’t always storm in with chaos. Sometimes, he just gently lures us with distraction… dressed up as entertainment, comparison, or even productivity.

Distraction Is Spiritual

Let’s call it what it is: many of us are spiritually disconnected—not because God has gone silent, but because we’ve stopped listening.

We’ve traded quiet time for screen time.
Communion with Christ for connection with content.
Real presence in our marriages for mindless scrolling.

And the most tragic part?
We barely notice it happening.

Our phones aren’t evil in themselves. They’re tools.
But they become traps when they start stealing our dependence, our attention, and our peace.

Who Has More Access to You—Your Phone or Your Savior?

That’s the question I had to wrestle with.
And maybe it’s one you need to ask yourself, too.

Jesus hasn’t moved.
He hasn’t stopped speaking.
But maybe we’ve just forgotten how to be still long enough to hear Him.

The constant noise, the pull of endless content, the dopamine hits from likes and notifications—it’s all shaping our spiritual attention spans. And if we’re not careful, we’ll raise children who can’t sit in silence and we’ll grow marriages that struggle to thrive without a screen in the room.

The Call Back to Stillness

Here’s the good news:
You can take your attention back.
You can shut down the noise and open up space for something better.

You can put your phone down and pick up God’s Word.
You can re-learn how to sit with Him.
You can begin to hear again.

And yes, at first, stillness might feel awkward.
You’ll be tempted to reach for distraction.
But stay with it.

Stillness is where intimacy grows. It’s where God whispers. And it’s where peace begins to replace pressure.

For the Sake of Your Marriage

This isn’t just about your quiet time—it’s about your relationship.
If you’re like many couples today, chances are your phone has become a source of tension in your marriage.

How many times have you heard:
“Can you just put your phone down for a minute?”
“Are you even listening to me?”

It’s time to stop letting a device create distance in our closest relationships.

Let’s not allow something in our hands to steal the intimacy we were meant to have—with God and with each other.

A Prayer to Refocus

Lord, help me to recognize the distractions that pull me away from You. Give me the strength to choose stillness, to quiet the noise, and to tune my heart to Your voice again. Help me love You with my attention. And help me love my spouse with my presence. In Jesus Name, Amen.

If this hits home for you, maybe it’s time for a little phone reset.
Not because it’s trendy—but because your soul needs space to breathe.
And your marriage? It needs presence more than pixels.

Let’s take our attention back—together.

Do you feel like you are all alone in your marriage?

Are your schedules so busy with work and taking care of your family that you are simply too tired to connect?

Wouldn't it be great if you could move from exhausted and alone to connected and supported?

To feel like you were part of a team?

Use Coupon Code: PODCAST20
for 20% off the regular price of $34.97

Find Out More

Finding Peace in Letting Go of Control in Your Marriage

by email@expeditionmarriage.org | Nov 15, 2024 | Articles, Christian Marriage, Marriage Recovery & Healing

Have you ever noticed how our desire to feel safe and in control can lead us down a path of trying to control everything around us—especially in our marriages? I’ve been there before, and let me tell you, it never ends well. The truth is that whenever we try to control what is not ours to control, we end up feeling anxious and weighed down.

Why There Is Peace In Letting Go

When we attempt to control everything—our spouse’s emotions, their reactions, their choices, or even our life circumstances—it often stems from a genuine longing for safety. We want to avoid pain, protect our families, and keep life as smooth as possible. Trust me, I’ve been guilty of this too many times. But the reality is, we weren’t designed to carry that weight. God didn’t create us to control every outcome or anticipate and prevent every bad thing from happening.

The more we try to take on the role of protector, peacekeeper, and life manager for our spouse, the more overwhelming it becomes. And what’s the result? We’re left feeling anxious, frustrated, and disconnected from the very person we’re trying to protect.
The reason is simple: we weren’t meant to be in control.
God is.

In Proverbs 3:5-6, we’re reminded of this foundational truth: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This is God’s gracious invitation for us to loosen our tight grip on control and instead place our trust in Him. He calls us to release the weight we’ve been trying to carry and believe that He is more than capable of handling what we cannot.

If you’re feeling that constant tension of trying to keep everything in line—whether it’s managing your spouse, your marriage, or preventing every possible problem in your family—take heart. Not only do you not have to be in control, but you also aren’t supposed to be. When you release that need to manage every outcome, you make room for God to work in your life. You create space for His peace to replace your anxiety. (Insert deep breath here.)

Start With One Thing

Psalm 46:10 offers this beautiful reminder: “Be still, and know that I am God.” When we allow ourselves to be still and trust that God is in control, we find the safety we’ve been searching for—not in our ability to manage everything, but in God’s unwavering faithfulness.

So, here’s a question to ask yourself today: What’s one area in your marriage or family where you’re holding on too tightly? Where have you been trying to control something that isn’t yours to control? Take a moment to reflect on it. Whatever it is, I encourage you to release it into God’s hands. He is trustworthy, He is good, and He is more than able to carry what you cannot.

Let go of the anxiety that comes with trying to be in control, and lean into the peace that comes from trusting God instead. Remember, He’s got you, your spouse, and your family in His loving and capable hands.