Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2:24

God designed marriage in the Garden of Eden to include Adam, Eve, and Himself. He should be that third strand in your marriage that binds you together. Too often people enter into relationships thinking that their spouse will fill all of the empty spaces in their heart and life. However, marriage by itself was not designed to fulfill you, but to bring you closer to God and help you understand His love in a deeper way. If your spouse could meet all of your needs, you wouldn’t need God. Conflicts arise when you look to your spouse to fulfill you where only God can. You cannot be complete without God.

It is important to keep in mind that men and women have different needs, and it can be difficult to recognize the needs of your spouse without consistent communication. Ephesians 5:33 tells us, let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. This verse highlights two of the different desires between men and women—love and respect. Your spouse may not love or respect you perfectly, but the greatest love, security, and honor you will receive can come only from God.

Remember to fill your heart with God’s Word and Spirit so that your heart overflows with the right attitude toward your spouse. Your character will determine the quality of love that you can give; you can only give out of the abundance of your heart.