Episode 9: Is Marriage Hard Or Are We Making It Harder?

“Marriage is hard.” Most couples hear that line long before they ever say their vows. It gets repeated at bridal showers, in sermons, from older couples, and on social media. In this episode, Eden and Michael ask a simple but important question: is marriage itself hard, or are there hard seasons inside something that is meant to be deeply good?

They talk honestly about the early transition from single independence to shared life, especially when you marry later and have already built your own routines, preferences, and stability. From late night video games to shared bank accounts, they unpack the small daily tradeoffs that can feel like loss in the moment and yet sit underneath the joy of building a family and a shared future. Marriage, they argue, is not endless difficulty, but it will absolutely include moments that require sacrifice, adjustment, and intentional effort.

The conversation also explores how some “hard” is created by our own choices. Affairs, chronic disengagement, unaddressed sarcasm, emotional shutdowns, or financial chaos can turn a normal marriage into a constant uphill climb. On the other side, there is hard that comes from outside: job loss, illness, grief, or pressure from extended family. Eden and Michael discuss how to tell the difference, when to “remember your vows” and lean in, and when a mindset of white knuckled martyrdom actually becomes harmful instead of holy.

For couples in an easier season, there is practical reflection on how to prepare now for the hard that will eventually come, without living in anxiety or fear about the future. For couples who feel like they have been in a long stretch of difficulty, there is encouragement to revisit why you said yes, to practice forgiveness without erasing healthy boundaries, and to get support when the weight is too much to carry alone. If you are looking for marriage advice that is honest but still hopeful, this episode will help you see that you are not failing simply because marriage feels hard at times, and that you really can grow through those seasons together.