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Marriage is one of the greatest gifts God gives, but it doesn’t just fall into place on its own. From the very beginning, God gave us a simple outline for how marriage is meant to work:
“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” - Genesis 2:24
Inside this one verse are four steps that make all the difference in building a strong, healthy marriage:
Whether you’re married now or hope to be someday, understanding these steps helps you build the kind of relationship God designed; one that’s full of love, unity, and real connection.
Every kid wants to be “grown up,” desiring the freedom it brings. But adulthood isn’t just about age, it’s about character. Marriage requires responsibility, humility, and the ability to put someone else first.
Growing up means learning how to:
Some of us grew up in healthy homes and learned great relational habits. Others learned what not to repeat. Either way, maturity is something we choose. You can’t build a great marriage on childish patterns, you build it on character that’s willing to grow.
“Leaving father and mother” is more than packing boxes. It’s stepping out of childhood and into adulthood emotionally, financially, and mentally.
A few good questions to ask yourself:
Having a good relationship with your parents is a blessing. But relying on them the same way you did while growing up holds you back. Marriage works best when two adults build a life together, not while still dependent on their parents or guardians. Moving out makes room physically and emotionally for a new family to form, united and growing together.
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” - 1 Corinthians 13:11
Marriage is a blessing. One that should bring joy to the couple, to their families, and even to the community around them. But it’s not the ultimate blessing or the only meaningful milestone in adulthood. It’s simply one of the gifts God gives, and it’s meant to be treated with honor.
In Genesis 2, God says:
“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
The word “helper” here is the Hebrew word ezer, the same word God uses to describe Himself when He steps in to strengthen and support His people. It doesn’t mean “assistant” or “sidekick.” It means someone who brings strength where the other is weak.
Marriage pairs two whole, unique individuals who come together as one flesh, not one brain. You’re not meant to think the same, feel the same, or want all the same things. God designed differences on purpose so that you can complement each other, encourage each other, and fill in each other’s gaps.
A great marriage doesn’t erase individuality. It honors it.
When two people bring their full selves, strengths, weaknesses, quirks, perspectives into the relationship with humility and grace, “one flesh” becomes a beautiful picture of unity, not uniformity.
Physical intimacy is a beautiful part of marriage, but like anything important, it takes intention. Early on, things feel effortless. Over time, work, kids, stress, and exhaustion means that intimacy requires planning and communication.
Some things that help:
And here’s some encouragement: couples who pray together, practice faith together, and stay spiritually connected often experience deeper emotional and physical intimacy. God designed us as whole people: body, mind, and spirit, so it makes sense that intimacy grows when we connect on every level.
Building unity is one thing; protecting it is another. Every marriage needs healthy boundaries to guard emotional and physical connection.
Some simple ways to protect your marriage:
No marriage stays strong by accident. It grows through little choices that honor each other and protect what God joined together.
If your relationship didn’t follow this order, or if things feel messy right now, hear this clearly: God isn’t interested in shaming you. His heart is always to restore, rebuild, and help you move forward.
It’s never too late to grow.Never too late to reconnect.Never too late to build something strong and beautiful.
Great marriages aren’t perfect; they’re honest, humble, covered in grace and mirror the beautiful relationship we have with Jesus.
You can watch a message on God’s design for relationships here
We as a church exist to help you meet, know and follow Jesus. No matter where you’ve been, what you’ve done, or what’s been done to you, God loves you and you are welcome at Sun Valley.