Marital conflict is not just a difference of opinion; instead, it is a series of events that have been poorly handled to damage the marriage relationship deeply. Marriage issues have decayed to the point that stubbornness, pride, anger, hurt, and bitterness prevent effective marriage communication. The root of almost all marital discord is selfishness on one or both parties. Saving a marriage means rejecting greed, giving up pride, forgiving hurt, and setting aside bitterness; these steps grow more complex, so it’s best to avoid the downward spiral of marital conflict.
The best approach to making marriage work is to prevent marital conflict. Preparing for marriage is aided by pre-marital counseling. If this doesn’t occur, then marriage relationship counseling soon after the wedding can give couples basic marital conflict resolution strategies that can be used before marriage problems get out of hand.
Marriage is a relationship where trust is built over time as committed couples set aside their interests for their partner’s good and develop skills for keeping the relationship positive and open.
As stated above, selfishness is the leading cause of marital discord. Still, another way of saying this is that matrimonial issues occur when one party insists upon having their way. While everyone has personal preferences, demanding that one’s self-interest prevails is a choice that always affects marriage. Can any partnership succeed when one party gets its way all the time? Of course not. If the marriage relationship grows, then giving up self-interest is something couples need to embrace. Eventually, sacrifice becomes a joy, not a chore.
But the answer is not to always give in and never have your way. Instead, the marriage relationship grows stronger as couples lovingly share and discuss their interests, still showing a willingness to sacrifice, but honestly working together to find the best solution for the marriage.
The other day, I spoke with a friend on ‘marital discord,’ a subject that many are experiencing or have experienced in their lives. This experience of unhappiness shared by two people who only travel through the pretense of what is perceived as ‘marital bliss’ is sad by design because each person finds themselves living this lie. But, again, this lie is a testament to the blinders a couple wears that prevent them from seeing the absolute truth about their marriage.
The matrimonial tenets of any marriage begin with sharing vows to love, honor, and obey. Still, the mention of observing is now an obsolete action brought on by ill-sighted views of what obeying means, especially for the bride. Knowing yourself first is the key to any successful relationship, which means knowing your TRUTH.
This Article was Last Updated On: October 21, 2025