The Bible offers hope for a struggling marriage because God asks, "is there any thing too hard for me?" (Jeremiah 32:27), and "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). It names the root of many fights, "From whence come wars and fightings among you?" (James 4:1), and the way through: "love covereth all sins" (Proverbs 10:12).
Every marriage goes through hard seasons: money stress, a new baby, illness, distance, broken trust or the same argument on repeat, and the weeks after the holidays are a common time to look for help. These twelve King James verses are for a husband or wife who wants to keep going: verses for when you do not know what to do, wisdom for conflict and communication, and hope for forgiveness and rebuilding. They are not a substitute for a good pastor or licensed counselor, and they never ask anyone to stay in danger. For celebrating marriage, see married couples; for repairing any relationship, see a broken relationship.
When your marriage is in trouble
1. 2 Chronicles 20:12
"O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee."
King Jehoshaphat faced an army too big for him and prayed that he did not know what to do, but his eyes were on God. It is an honest prayer for a couple who feel outnumbered by their problems.
2. Psalms 86:7
"In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me."
David expected God to answer in the day of trouble. Bring the hard conversation, the hurt and the fear to God first, together if you can and alone if you must.
3. Jeremiah 32:27
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?"
God asked Jeremiah if anything was too hard for Him. Jeremiah had just bought a field in a city about to fall, trusting God's promise of restoration (Jeremiah 32:15). Hope is sometimes an act of obedience before it is a feeling.
4. Matthew 19:26
"But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
Jesus said this about salvation, which no one can earn, but it shows God's power over what seems impossible. A marriage that feels beyond repair is not beyond God.
Conflict, communication and strife
5. James 4:1
"From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?"
James says many fights come from desires at war inside us. Before asking what my spouse did, it helps to ask what I wanted and did not get. That question can turn an argument into a conversation.
6. Proverbs 17:14
"The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with."
Starting a quarrel is like letting water out of a dam: once it begins, it is hard to stop. Leave off contention means stopping before the argument floods the house. A pause is not a defeat.
7. Proverbs 18:13
"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."
Answering before you have heard is folly. Many couples find it helps to repeat back what the other said before replying. Listening is a form of love. See the tongue.
8. Proverbs 15:18
"A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife."
A hot-tempered person stirs up strife, but one who is slow to anger calms it. You cannot control your spouse's temper, but you can lower the temperature on your side. See anger.
Forgiving and rebuilding
9. Proverbs 10:12
"Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."
Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers sins. Covering never means hiding abuse or pretending nothing happened; it means choosing not to keep score of wrongs that have been confessed and forgiven. Peter repeats the idea (1 Peter 4:8).
10. Psalms 130:4
"But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared."
There is forgiveness with God. Spouses who have received God's mercy can extend it to each other, and a spouse who has hurt the other can come home to God first. See forgiveness.
11. Malachi 2:15
"And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth."
God warns husbands not to deal treacherously with the wife of their youth. He cares about faithfulness and the vows made before Him (Malachi 2:14). After an affair, rebuilding trust takes honesty, time and usually outside help.
12. 1 Corinthians 13:8
"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."
Charity, love, never fails. Feelings rise and fall, but the love described in 1 Corinthians 13, patient, kind and enduring, is a choice God can strengthen in both of you.
A short prayer
Lord, we do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. Nothing is too hard for You. Soften our hearts, slow our anger and teach us to listen before we answer. Where we have hurt each other, give us honest repentance and real forgiveness. Rebuild what is broken, and lead us to the help we need. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Pray for your marriage daily with the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Download our free SOAP study page · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about a struggling marriage?
Scripture is honest that married people will face trouble (1 Corinthians 7:28), and it offers both hope and wisdom: God is able to help, conflict often grows from selfish desires (James 4:1), and love "believeth all things, hopeth all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7). It also encourages getting help: "in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Proverbs 11:14).
Does the Bible say I have to stay in an abusive marriage?
No. The LORD's soul hates "him that loveth violence" (Psalm 11:5), and Scripture never asks anyone to remain in danger. Safety comes first. If you are being harmed, threatened or controlled, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or call 911, and talk with a pastor or counselor who understands abuse.
What does the Bible say about divorce?
Jesus taught that marriage is meant to be lifelong (Matthew 19:6) and named sexual unfaithfulness as an exception (Matthew 19:9), and Paul addresses desertion by an unbelieving spouse (1 Corinthians 7:15). Christians hold different views on how these apply, so talk with your pastor. Whatever your situation, God's grace is bigger than your past.
How do we start rebuilding our marriage?
Begin with prayer and honesty, together if possible. Find a pastor, a mentor couple or a licensed marriage counselor. Set one small daily habit, such as praying for each other or a ten-minute check-in. Keep short accounts: "let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). See also married couples.
This page offers spiritual encouragement, not counseling or legal advice. Please talk with a pastor or licensed counselor about your situation. Staying safe comes first: if you are being abused, threatened or controlled, please reach out. In the US, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about a broken relationship · Bible verses about love and marriage · Bible verses about forgiveness · Bible verses about anger · Bible verses about restoration · Bible verses for married couples · Bible verses about betrayal
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