It's your day, the best day of your life! You walk down the aisle in a beautiful white gown, perfect hair and makeup, and try to suppress the overwhelming feeling of joy that is about to ruin your waterproof mascara (they're never really waterproof, are they?). You are about to say "yes" to spending the rest of your life with the man of your dreams!

Here he is, handsome as usual. He takes your hand, you lock eyes, exchange your vows, and before you know it, he puts a ring on your finger and kisses you. Wow! You're married! What now?

About 40 to 50 percent of married couples in the United States divorce. That doesn't sound very encouraging, but you are different, right? I mean, you really love each other! You just knew from the beginning that you were made for one another. Can I tell you respectfully, that this is what every couple thinks when they get married? Yup, guilty! People don't get married with the intention to divorce after a couple of years. They get married with the intention to be together forever.

For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.

I have never been to a wedding where the bride or the groom start to repeat their vows, suddenly stop, and say "Wait... Until death do us part? That's a long time! How about 5 years? Maybe 6?" -- not happening! We all get married because we want to spend the rest of our lives with each other. So then why are there so many divorces happening every year?

We are living in a society that is constantly pursuing happiness, but once we catch it, we're unable to hold onto it.

I want to marry you, because you make me happy. I want to feel like this forever. Does this sound familiar to you? I'd be lying if I told you that I've never heard it before, or even said it myself. We all want to feel loved, special, appreciated, happy, and we choose our partners by the way they make us feel, but what happens when he stops making you feel that way? Exactly! You'll get a divorce, and find someone who makes you feel loved, special, appreciated, and happy again, and I can promise you with a 100 percent certainty that this one, and the next one, and the one after that won't work out either. If you keep depending on others to make you feel good about yourself, you will never find your happily ever after.

If you don't want to be part of the 40 to 50 percent of Americans who are getting divorced, you have to stop putting your own needs in front of your spouse's. A great marriage is the union of two servants. You were created to serve your spouse and vice-versa. Why don't you stop concentrating on your spouse's duties and focus on your own instead? What can you do to make your husband's day a little brighter? How can you show him that you appreciate him?

Marriage is an empty box. It's up to you, what you put in. If you fill your box with disappointment, disapproval, and discouragement, guess what you'll get out of it! Fill your box with things that you want for yourself instead; encouragement, approval, and love! (Diamonds anyone?)

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I'm tired of watching the enemy destroy relationships and marriages, and I'm taking this one personal! Stop listening to his lies! He tells you that the grass is greener on the other side, but I tell you to start watering your own lawn! Every stronghold can be broken! Every heart can be healed! Every marriage can be restored, and I am living proof!
Feelings change, and if you're not willing to adjust and keep working on your marriage you cannot succeed. Are you going to take the path of least resistance, or are you going to fight for your marriage?

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:13-14

Where are you getting your relationship advice from? Divorced Danielle, miserable Michelle, or single Stephanie? The people who tell you that your spouse is a jerk and buy you a drink to get your mind off of him are not the people you want advice from. You need to talk to the people who tell you all the things you don't want to hear! The people that will tell you to pull yourself together and apologize. The people who pray for you and your marriage. The people who have the great marriage that you want!

Why don't you start asking a pro? Why don't you ask the one who created marriage? He wrote a book just for you! It's called the Bible, and it's the answer to all your questions.