Marriage After God

Episodes

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  Everybody Grieves. Not Everybody Mourns Well with Matthew Efird 15.09.2026 1h 6m

  Grieving the loss of a child as a Christian couple: Matthew Efird, author of Even Though We Will, shares a dad's perspective on infant loss and what it does to a marriage. In 2019, he and his wife Hannah learned their second son, Noah, had trisomy 13, a lethal diagnosis, and in March 2020 they held him for 57 and a half hours before saying goodbye. In this conversation with Aaron, Matthew traces how the ordinary rhythms of faith, mentorship, and community they had built for years became the ground they stood on when the news came, and why everybody grieves, but not everybody mourns well. He shares the question their neonatologist asked about their marriage, the family slogan born out of the book of Job, and the two questions he and Hannah learned to ask each other in place of "Are you okay?" For anyone walking through loss or trying to love someone who is, it is an honest picture of trusting God when it hurts.
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  Stop Performing In Your Marriage with Brad Rhoads 01.09.2026 50m

  What is a grace-based marriage, and how do you stop keeping score with your spouse? Brad Rhoads, pastor, founder of the Grace Marriage ministry, and author of The Grace Marriage (Moody Publishers), spent the first year of his marriage convinced his wife's unhappiness was her problem, until two men in his church told him he was succeeding at the things that mattered least and failing at the things that mattered most. In this conversation, Aaron and Brad discuss the difference between a performance-based marriage, where love is given and withdrawn based on behavior, and a grace-based marriage built on the gospel. They cover why the church has largely abandoned the space between premarital counseling and marital crisis, how resting in God's grace changes the way you love your spouse, and what it looks like when a couple's marriage is so genuinely fun that younger couples come asking for counsel.
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  The Atmosphere Your Marriage Is Building 25.08.2026 48m

  How your marriage affects your children: Jennifer Pepito, author of The Inspired Homeschool and host of the Restoration Home Podcast, has been married 36 years and homeschooled seven children for 30 years, but a clarifying moment came when her grown daughter told her what actually hurt growing up. It wasn't the hard circumstances. It was the conflict between her parents. In this conversation, Jennifer and Aaron walk through what chronic complaining does to a husband, how unresolved fear and disconnection create an atmosphere children absorb, and what it looks like to cultivate a joy-filled, thankful home in genuinely difficult seasons. They also make the case for homeschooling: why the public school standard was never the right measuring stick, and why parents who feel unqualified are closer to ready than they think. For any couple that wants to build something better inside their home, this episode is a good place to start.
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  The Real Problem Isn't Communication with Genee Francis 11.08.2026 50m

  Feeling disconnected from your spouse? Dr. Genee Francis, a licensed therapist and Assistant Director of Content and Programming for WinShape Marriage, has a reframe for every couple who says they can't communicate: it's not a communication problem. It's an intimacy problem, spiritual, emotional, and recreational. Married 18 years with two boys, Genee shares how she and her husband Rashad walked through his father's terminal illness, a two-year estate battle, and her unexpected hip replacement. In this conversation, Genee and Aaron talk through the prayer rhythm that gave her a window into her husband's grief when words failed him, why so many couples feel alone even inside a church, why naming disconnection out loud is the first step, and what it takes to build the kind of community that sustains a marriage through hard seasons. If you've ever felt disconnected and didn't know what to call it, this one is for you.
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  Faithful in the Mundane with Emma Waters 04.08.2026 54m

  A biblical view of children, motherhood, and the home. Emma Waters, a policy analyst for the Heritage Foundation and author of Lead Like Jael: Seven Timeless Principles for Today's Women of Faith, joins Aaron to share how one conversation about kids revealed a deep fear of becoming a mother, so deep she broke up with the man she loved. A mentor's challenge sent her into Scripture: either you're right that children will ruin your life, or the Bible is right that they are a blessing. Emma and Aaron talk about why the trad wife movement and girl boss feminism are more alike than they seem, how Jael's tent peg shows that faithfulness in the mundane equips us for extraordinary moments, why the enemy's first attack happened in the home, what the Hebrew phrase ezer kenegdo reveals about a wife as her husband's battlemate, and how to stop treating your home like a waiting room for your real life.
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  30 Marriage Devotional: How to Have a Marriage After God 29.07.2026 36m

  What does it actually mean to have a marriage after God? In the finale of our 30-week marriage devotional series, Aaron and Jennifer Smith share the pivotal moment early in their marriage when, sitting in church feeling hopeless, God brought Aaron to Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, "not as I will, but as you will," and asked him whether he could lay down his will for his bride the way Christ did for His. That surrender didn't fix everything overnight, but it changed the posture of their hearts and became the foundation of Unveiled Wife, Husband Revolution, and Marriage After God. They unpack why transformation starts with the individual rather than the marriage, how transparency and godly community dissolve the power of hidden struggles, what a marriage after God actually looks like (not perfect, but imitable), and this week's call to action: write a love letter to your spouse.
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  Glimpses of God with Dan and Peggy Rupple 28.07.2026 1h 1m

  Christian marriage in Hollywood: Dan and Peggy Rupple have been married 48 years while working inside the entertainment industry, and Aaron asks them how. Dan's sketch comedy group was being considered for the original Saturday Night Live cast when one night alone with the Beatitudes led to his salvation and the birth of Christian comedy. Peggy has battled non-Hodgkin's lymphoma six times over 35 years. Today Dan is CEO of Master Media International, and his new book, Glimpses: Viewing the Media Through the Lens of Faith, is available at mastermedia.com. They talk about why Hollywood is in crisis, what the top 25 box office films have in common, what it means to be a Daniel at work, how to navigate movies, phones, and AI with your kids, and the non-negotiables that protected their marriage, including turning down a $300,000 job to coach Little League.
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  Raising Courageous Kids in Unprecedented Times w/ Isaac and Angie Tolpin 21.07.2026 1h 3m

  Courageous parenting in unprecedented times: Aaron sits down with Isaac and Angie Tolpin, hosts of the Courageous Parenting Podcast and founders of Be Courageous Ministry, on the launch day of their new book, Courageous Parenting: Biblical Parenting in Unprecedented Times. Parents of nine, the Tolpins unpack why the word Christian has lost its meaning, why two-thirds of kids walk away from church by 18, and how keeping families together in worship builds lasting faith. Angie shares the moment God disciplined her before a conference talk and why hearing hard truth from your child is a test of humility. Then the conversation turns to raising kids in the age of AI: why homeschool parents can't ignore it, how to build creative confidence before the screen, and where to draw the line. Pick up Courageous Parenting on Amazon and connect with the Tolpins at becourageousministry.org.
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  Your Marriage Can Heal — Even If You're the Only One Working On It with Belah Rose 14.07.2026 56m

  How to heal your marriage when your spouse isn't working on it: Belah Rose, founder of Delight Your Marriage, has coached over 500 couples and says even one willing husband or wife can change a marriage. On the Marriage After God podcast, Aaron Smith and Belah walk through her Delight Your Marriage framework (men need respect, admiration, and wholehearted intimacy; wives need to feel safe, known, and cherished), the 1–10 marriage health scale for how open to be right now, and the SHORE apology framework: Specific, Humble, Own, Repair, Exonerate. Belah shares her testimony of a first marriage that ended in divorce, walking away from God, and the second chance that reshaped everything she teaches. They cover pride as the chief enemy of marriage, why masculinity is meant to be protection, and how to confess hidden sin. Visit delightyourmarriage.com, book a free clarity call, and mention Marriage After God for a listener discount.
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  29 Marriage Devotional Unveiled: The Freedom to Be Fully Known 08.07.2026 54m

  Being unveiled in marriage means being fully known by God and by your spouse, with nothing hidden. In week 29 of their 30-week Marriage After God devotional series, Aaron and Jennifer Smith tie the Husband After God message of walking in victory to the Wife After God message of being unveiled. They start at the cross, where Christ defeated sin and death, broke down the dividing wall (Ephesians 2), removed condemnation (Romans 8), and tore the temple veil so we can know God face to face. From there they get practical: why belief drives every daily choice, how Aaron found freedom from pornography by believing the way of escape in 1 Corinthians 10:13, what Romans 7 and Galatians 5 say about the war between flesh and Spirit, and what walking in victory looks like with tired kids, hurtful words, and unmet needs. Call to action: memorize 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 and Romans 6:6 and take one step toward being unveiled with God and your spouse.
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  Cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit in Marriage with Richard & Kelly Kannwischer 07.07.2026 1h 3m

  Fruit of the Spirit in marriage: Aaron talks with Richard Kannwischer, senior pastor of Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta and author of Cultivate: How God Grows the Fruit of the Spirit Within Us, and his wife Kelly, who leads Wonderfully Made Ministry for adults with intellectual disabilities. Married 27 years, they share how they met at Princeton and the faith legacies passed down from their grandparents. Richard explains why Galatians 5 describes one fruit, not nine to pick from, why most Christians know tricks but aren't trained, and what it means for marriage to make us holy rather than happy. Kelly shares how empty nesting forced them to find love again and how patience flows from surrender. You'll hear the Dallas Willard practice of reading Psalms 145-150 daily to train joy, why gentleness matters in an age of outrage, and a challenge to pray the nine every day. Get the book and a free study guide at richardkannwischer.com.
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  Forgiveness Doesn't Wait for an Apology — with Leann Murphy 30.06.2026 48m

  How to forgive your spouse before they apologize: Leann Murphy, author of Becoming a Husband and Becoming a Wife (Focus on the Family), has been married to Mike for almost 38 years, but around year fifteen infidelity nearly ended their marriage and most of the counsel they received pointed toward separating. In this conversation with Aaron Smith, Leann shares why a covenant with God, not a contract with each other, is the reason they stayed, the night Jesus met her in the corner of a closet with the words "Would you betray me with a kiss?", and why forgiveness has to come before repentance and reconciliation. They also talk about the parable of the unforgiving servant, cutting the apron strings with parents, fighting for your spouse instead of against them, and the 21 letters Leann wrote her son before his wedding that became two books. Pick up Becoming a Husband and Becoming a Wife and share this episode with a couple you love.
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  The One Thing You Can Actually Be the Greatest At — with Pastor Mark Moore 23.06.2026 52m

  Christian marriage wisdom from Proverbs with Pastor Mark Moore, Teaching Pastor at Christ's Church of the Valley in Phoenix and author of Wisdom 52, Quest 52, and Core 52. Married 40 years, Mark shares the Father's Day card that reframed his whole calling: the only thing he will ever be the greatest at is being the husband of one woman and the father of two children. He opens up about discovering abuse and brokenness in his family line, parenting out of sheer commitment with no model to follow, and the blind spots that surfaced after decades of marriage. Aaron and Mark talk about social media as a modern idol, with clear household rules for phones, why Solomon's son became a fool, pride as the silent killer of great marriages, why gratitude and anxiety cannot coexist, and truth as a Person rather than a proposition. Find Wisdom 52 at wisdom52.org or markmoore.org, and share this episode with a couple you love.
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  28 Marriage Devotional: What Intimacy Really Means 10.06.2026 57m

  Intimacy in marriage is more than sex, but it definitely includes it. In week 28 of their 30-week devotional series, Aaron and Jennifer Smith unpack the three essential kinds of intimacy God designed for husbands and wives: physical, emotional, and spiritual. Starting in Genesis with a relational, triune God, they explain why marriage is the one relationship meant to experience every level of closeness, why intimacy starts with God rather than your spouse, and why vulnerability is the prerequisite for being truly known. Aaron shares honestly about his struggle with emotional connection, Jennifer recalls the first time they really opened up to each other in Malawi, and together they walk through 1 Corinthians 7, 1 John 4, and Ephesians 5. The episode ends with a practical list of ways to initiate intimacy and a challenge: choose one way to pursue your spouse this week. Based on the devotionals Husband After God and Wife After God.
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  27 Marriage Devotional: 5 Ways to Abide in Christ Together 20.05.2026 43m

  How to abide in Christ as a couple: in week 27 of their 30-week marriage devotional series, Aaron and Jennifer Smith walk through John 15 and five practical ways to stay connected to Jesus, the true vine. After last week's episode on hiding from God, this conversation turns toward running to Him instead. They ask a hard question about where we go when we're sad, tired, bored or angry, whether to our spouse, a screen, food or Christ, and then unpack five habits: being in God's Word daily, seeking communion with God through prayer, living as a living sacrifice, relying on the Holy Spirit, and obeying Jesus' command to love one another. Along the way they cover Psalm 119, family Bible time, repentance as a gift, God's pruning, and why you cannot abide in Christ while refusing to love His people. This week's action: thank God for the ways He is pursuing you and choose three ways to obey Him.
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  26 Marriage Devotional: Why We Hide from God and How to Return to Restoration 13.05.2026 44m

  Why we hide from God after we sin, and how to return to restoration in marriage. In week 26 of the Marriage After God devotional series, Aaron and Jennifer Smith open with the truth that we all sin, then walk through Genesis 3 to show why our first instinct, like Adam and Eve's, is to run and cover ourselves. They unpack the fear, shame, guilt, and pride that keep husbands and wives hiding from God and from each other, and Aaron shares honestly about the years he hid his pornography addiction from Jennifer and what gave him the courage to confess. Drawing on James 4:17, Romans 12:1-2, Proverbs 28:13, and Psalm 139, they show how confession breaks sin's power, how God covers us with Christ instead of fig leaves, and how transparency became the most healing rhythm in their marriage. This week's call to action: drag your sin into the light, repent before God, then talk to your spouse and invite them to keep you accountable.
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  25 Marriage Devotional: Embracing God’s Order in Marriage 08.04.2026 50m

  God's order in marriage is the focus of week 25 of the Marriage After God 30-week devotional series. Aaron and Jennifer Smith look at how God brings order to everything He makes, from the interdependent parts of a single cell to the creation account in Genesis, and why that same design matters in our homes. They walk through 1 Corinthians 11:3, the created order of man and woman, and the example of Jesus submitting to the Father, showing that headship is a responsibility to lead like Christ rather than a privilege to be served. Wives are called to an active ministry as a perfectly fit helper, and both spouses are motivated by their own relationship with Christ rather than each other's obedience. The episode closes with John 15 and Galatians 5 and a reminder that fruitfulness comes from abiding in Christ, not trying harder. Grab your favorite fruit, pray with your spouse, and pick up Husband After God and Wife After God to go deeper.
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  Minimalism with Purpose: Owning Less to Live More with Joshua Becker 02.04.2026 52m

  Biblical minimalism for Christian marriage: Aaron Smith talks with Joshua Becker, founder of Becoming Minimalist and author of Uncluttered Faith, about how owning less frees couples to live more for God and family. Joshua shares the Saturday morning in his garage that started his journey, why the average American home holds 300,000 items, and what John the Baptist, the parable of the four soils, and 1 Timothy 6 reveal about our attachment to possessions. They get practical about decluttering as a couple when one spouse wants to purge more than the other, guarding against pride, redefining success, and the blessings Joshua has seen in his 26-year marriage and with his kids. If clutter is draining your time, money, and energy, this conversation offers a hopeful, faith-centered path. Pick up Uncluttered Faith by Joshua Becker, and share this episode with a couple you love.
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  24 Marriage Devotional: Building a Godly Marriage: Husband, Wife, and One Flesh in Christ 01.04.2026 44m

  Husband and wife roles in a godly marriage are the focus of week 24 of the Marriage After God 30-week devotional series. Aaron and Jennifer Smith use Paul's picture of the body in 1 Corinthians 12 to show how two distinct people become one flesh: individual but never independent. They walk through the husband's part as leader, protector, and foundation of the home, sharing research on how a father's presence shapes children and how simply holding his wife's hand lowers her stress. Then they turn to the wife's part, from oxytocin and nurturing to being the thermostat that sets the temperature of the home. Along the way they challenge husbands tempted to check out or leave, talk about jealousy, playing to each other's strengths, and 1 Corinthians 12:26, where one suffers and all suffer together. This week, find one way to bless your marriage and one way to bless the body of Christ. Based on Husband After God and Wife After God.
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  23 Marriage Devotional: The Power of Unity in Marriage and the Body of Christ 25.03.2026 51m

  Unity in marriage and the body of Christ is the focus of week 23 of the Marriage After God 30-week devotional series. Aaron and Jennifer Smith explain why isolation is the default for so many couples, how the enemy stalks those who drift from the herd (Proverbs 18:1, 1 Peter 5:8), and how shame pulled them into hiding early in their own marriage until a church marriage group turned things around. They walk through the reasons people isolate, why your spouse should be the first to notice you're distant, and how marriage is a microcosm of Christ and the church. Drawing on John 17, Ephesians 2, Romans 12, Acts 2, and 1 Corinthians 13, they show that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to benefit the whole body and that love must motivate all of it. Practical steps include stopping avoidance, inviting fellowship, and praying for God-fearing couples. This week's challenge: be intentional to pursue other believers together.