ADVICE RELATIONSHIPS - tackle marital problems and other relationships head on

Every marriage is a union between two individuals who bring to it their own opinions, personality quirks and values, so it is no wonder that even in happy marriages, the couples have to cope with a profusion of marital issues. Some conflicts are just minor irritations, but others can be overwhelmingly complex and intense. Advice relationships help to identify and define the problems and provide bible-based coping strategies, and then despite their differences, couples remain in the marriage ..happily... because they have found the answer to a worthwhile marriage.

Advice relationships help couples to understand that problems are inevitably part of a relationship, much the way chronic physical ailments are inevitable as you get older.

In marriages where couples don't put Christ first, perpetual problems eventually kill the relationship, because instead of coping with problems effectively, the couple gets gridlocked over it, resolving nothing, and because they make no headway, they feel increasingly hurt, frustrated and rejected by each other. They are on the course toward parallel lives and inevitable loneliness. When husbands and wives put the love of Christ first, they are anchoring their marriage – basing its strength and stability – outside of themselves, and this is essential if a marriage is to endure the tests all marriages face.

Advice relationships offer a Christian approach to conflict resolution based on the Bible. Once couples realise that their marital problems stem from their unwillingness to put Christ into their lives, they will find that their problems no longer interfere with marital happiness.

At Family Life we offer amazing resources for advice relationships, and church groups of all sizes will benefit, as our literature, DVD's, and other resources serve to encourage the kind of spiritual growth and character development that enables marriage within God's boundaries to be fun and spiritually fulfilling. They are perfect for group discussions and weekend retreats.