Doing Marriage Well

This episode explains how creating a shared vision strengthens marriage by turning individual preferences into a united purpose.It shows how to focus on common goals (like raising children who are responsible), distinguish strong desires from weak preferences, and negotiate realistic plans through compromise, backup options, or a better third way.Practical advice includes seeking experienced advice, trying one approach while keeping others in reserve, and praying together as you plan a path from where you are to where you want to be.

This episode explores how differences in convictions—ranging from sports and politics to conspiracy theories and faith—can strain a marriage. It offers practical steps: agree not to argue about volatile topics, respect your spouse’s boundaries, pray and seek outside influence, and prioritize safety and mutual decency.
The program references 1 Corinthians 7 (staying with an unwilling spouse if they are willing and it’s safe) and emphasises offering grace, avoiding attempts to force change, and protecting your relationship when core beliefs collide.

This episode explains how to keep your own low moods from dragging your spouse down while staying honest about how you feel.
Learn practical steps: avoid ruminating, clarify expectations (for example, "I'm sorry I'm down; I don't expect you to fix it"), and be aware of how past experiences can shape responses.
If you’re frequently grumpy, identify triggers and choose kinder actions even when you feel bad — don’t reserve your worst behaviour for home.

This episode explores how spouses' moods affect each other and why it’s important not to let your partner’s bad mood become yours. Paul explains that marriage blends two lives, so feelings transfer both ways.He offers practical counsel: care and listen, offer help, but remain emotionally steady—stay at the top of the pit to help pull your spouse out. If they aren’t ready, continue to encourage them without taking on guilt for being okay. Staying out of the pit is a way to do marriage well.

In this episode Paul explains what it means—and what it does not mean—to be sexually available to your spouse. Sexual availability is about the ability to connect and share your sexual self, not about always saying yes or sacrificing your needs.
He covers prerequisites such as being in touch with your own sexuality, the importance of willingness and empathy, practical daily check-ins about sexual feelings, and recognising signs when your spouse needs intimacy. If you're out of touch, he recommends getting help and practising to rebuild availability.
Paul also discusses how a partner may initially "flood" after a period of unavailability and urges patience as the relationship normalises, noting the close parallel between sexual and emotional availability.

Paul examines why emotional and sexual connection often feel limited or missing in marriage, noting the cause is rarely simply indifference. He outlines common reasons—lack of awareness, harmful teaching, past abuse or fear, feeling incapable, retaliatory withholding, overwhelming busyness, and underlying selfishness.Listeners are urged to honestly identify which factors affect them or their spouse, work to address those issues, and seek professional help when needed so connection and change become possible.

In this episode Paul explains what emotional availability really means, why many couples never learned it, and how it affects marriage. He outlines the prerequisites—knowing your own emotions, avoiding emotional dumping, and responding without withdrawing—and stresses that emotional connection must be practised consistently, not just occasionally.
Practical tips include asking about your spouse's highs and lows daily, listening more than you talk, giving time for sharing (about 30 minutes), validating feelings, and getting help if needed. Paul reminds listeners that emotional availability is a skill couples can build together and that true strength is not afraid of tears.

This episode challenges couples to see that withholding emotional connection is as painful and damaging as withholding sex, and that we often use cognitive dissonance to justify our behavior.Paul urges listeners to stop blaming their partner, accept responsibility, and ask God to reveal the truth in their hearts; he also notes that issues like addiction, adultery, neglect, or ongoing anger must be addressed first.Tomorrow’s episode will define what it means to be emotionally available.

In this episode Paul explains that emotional and sexual availability are both essential to a healthy marriage and that lacking one can hurt a spouse just as deeply as lacking the other.
He urges listeners to consider whether they limit the connection their partner needs, to empathise with how that feels, and to pray and act on what they learn so their marriage can reflect the fullness God intended. Empathy helps us do marriage well.

In this digest of Doing Marriage Well (week of August 3, 2026), Paul explores why God created marriage, drawing from Genesis, the prophets, and the New Testament. He explains marriage as companionship, a picture of God’s relationship with his people, and a priority in God’s design.
Paul also addresses practical implications—protecting newlyweds, honouring marriages in the church, balancing happiness and holiness, and understanding the role of sex within marriage—offering pastoral insight and encouragement for couples.
Link to Ezer Kenegdo article