On Monday we shared on the blog, “5 Tips For a Healthy Marriage.” Maybe you read that and your first thought was, “My marriage is far from healthy right now.”

I want to encourage you today, and hopefully give you some hope. Don’t give up on your marriage, it’s worth fighting for.

“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:13-14 (NIV)

In this passage in Colossians the NIV uses the word bear, which means to carry the weight of or support. To bear something is not an easy task or an easy ask. It takes hard work, intentionality and the laying down of our own egos. It follows “bear with each other” with “forgive one another,” and finally a call to above all else put on love. Support, forgive, love.

Now I don’t know what messiness you may be going through in your marriage, but if you can do those three things – support, forgive, love – I truly believe that hope is on the horizon for you and your spouse. If you do those three things you can and will have a healthy marriage.

Remember, no marriage is perfect, and every relationship faces challenges.

But when both partners are willing to put in the effort, transformation is possible. Take one step at a time. Support, forgive, love.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, this week on the Men of Iron Podcast we kick off The Wife’s Perspective Series, you do not want to miss it!