Choosing Each Other in Busy Seasons

There are seasons of life that feel beautifully full — and then there are seasons that feel relentless.

Both my husband and I work full-time. We have side commitments, volunteer in church, try to be present friends, and raise two children who need our time, attention, and patience. Add in the unexpected — the car breaking down, the washer going out, groceries to buy, meals to prep, laundry to fold, and a house that never seems to stay clean — and suddenly everything piles up at once.

The kids are tired. We’re tired. Someone is always needing something.

And in those moments, it’s very easy for marriage to slip into the background.

Not because we don’t value it — but because life feels loud and urgent.

Why marriage must stay a priority

I believe deeply that marriage should always be a priority.

Your spouse is your partner. The person God placed you with. They were there before children, and Lord willing, they will be there after children leave the home. They are your support system, your teammate, your companion in life.

When a marriage suffers, the fallout is never contained to just two people. It touches children, extended family, friendships, communities, and everything intertwined with that relationship.

Prioritizing marriage isn’t about neglecting your kids. It’s about building the foundation that holds everything else steady.

A strong marriage creates security. A neglected one creates instability — even when everyone is trying their best.

Why this is so hard in real life

The biggest obstacles are simple, but heavy: time and exhaustion.

When you’re tired, stressed, and mentally overloaded, priorities can get distorted. What feels most urgent takes precedence over what is most important.

Our culture also doesn’t help. We’re told constantly to put ourselves first, to focus on self-care above all else. While rest and care matter, there are seasons where love looks like choosing your spouse and family over yourself — not because you don’t matter, but because covenant does.

What protecting our marriage actually looks like

Protecting a marriage doesn’t require grand gestures. It requires intention.

For us, that looks like:

• Scheduling a date night at least once a month. More is wonderful, but once is better than none.

• Putting phones down and choosing presence.

• Using our commute together as connection time — talking, listening to audiobooks, sharing thoughts.

• Fasting together weekly as a spiritual discipline.

• Extending grace when we fall short.

• Acknowledging we’re still learning and growing.

These aren’t perfect practices. They’re small, consistent choices that keep us turning toward each other instead of drifting apart.

A faith-centered view of marriage

Faith shapes everything about how I view marriage.

Marriage was designed by God to reflect Christ’s relationship with the church. Scripture places immense importance on it — and that alone should tell us how sacred it is.

You cannot build intimacy without time, communication, and trust. And while trust can be damaged and difficult to rebuild, it is not impossible.

Submission has become a misunderstood and even taboo word, but Biblical submission is not weakness or erasure. It is partnership, mutual respect, and shared responsibility under God’s authority. Our ultimate obedience is to Christ. Marriage flourishes when both spouses are seeking Him first.

Husbands are called to lead with love — not control. Wives are called to respond with respect — not silence. When either is missing, the relationship falls out of rhythm.

In general, women long to feel loved, and men long to feel respected. When one breaks down, the other often follows. Restoring that rhythm often starts when one person chooses grace — even when it’s hard.

We are human. We will disappoint each other. We will fail, hurt, and fall short. Expecting perfection from a spouse is a burden no marriage can carry.

Grace is what sustains covenant.

As Scripture reminds us, a cord of three strands is not easily broken.

A word of encouragement

If you are in a busy season — tired, stretched thin, juggling responsibilities — you are not failing.

Marriage doesn’t need perfection to thrive. It needs intention, humility, forgiveness, and daily choices to turn toward one another again and again.

Choose each other.

Even in small ways.

Especially in full seasons.

Sacred Wellness exists to remind us that caring for our marriages, our families, and our faith doesn’t require grand gestures — just faithful ones.