Maybe my husband and I are just slow learners, but we’ve found ourselves back in couples counseling on numerous occasions throughout our marriage. What I suspect is that we are not the only ones who would benefit from intermittent seasons of intentionality and accountability in marriage.
First life offers us a variety of challenges that we don’t always have the skills to overcome on our own. A neutral third party can be a powerful agent for change when we are stuck in a rut, forgiveness is required, unity can’t be achieved, when trust has been broken, or skills are lacking. When a new issue arises, inviting wise counsel into your relationship can prevent small issues from escalating into massive problems that can threaten to consume your marriage over time.
Some cycles are hard to break, and over time, it’s so easy to fall back into the same ruts that lead to aggravation, hurt, and conflict. Going back to a counselor to address the issues or to break the negative cycle that has resurfaced again is a worthwhile effort. There is no limit to the amount of time and effort you can continue to invest in your relationship, but as broken people, there is also no limit to the ways we can hurt each other.
Don’t give up, get busy finding the advice, support, and accountability you need. As long as you both stay willing to do the hard work of loving each other over the course of a lifetime, there is still hope for your marriage. Maybe this is the year you go to counseling for the first time or return to counseling again to find freedom from the negative patterns that are holding your marriage back from being the blessing it is supposed to be in each of your lives.
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