From Cold Hearts with Courage: Promise, Purpose, Path, Perseverance, and Praise :: [Ep. 296]

What if the coldest seasons of marriage could become the soil where joy, prayer, and gratitude take root? We explore a simple, Scripture-shaped framework—promise, purpose, path, perseverance, and praise—that helps couples move from numbness to renewed connection. Drawing on personal stories of burnout and a misfired sabbatical, plus our daughter’s relentless grind through demanding courses, we get honest about distraction, isolation, and the after-holiday blues—and then we show how God’s promises cut through the fog.

We start with promise because God’s promises are more than verses on a page; they reveal His character. From 2 Corinthians 1:20 to James 1 and Philippians 4, we unpack how promises clarify identity and reshape expectations for hard days. That clarity awakens purpose that begins today, not when emotions improve or circumstances change. Purpose then forms a path: staying near to Jesus so we can give away the love we receive from Him through small, daily acts—gentle words under stress, courageous honesty when weary, and simple prayers when words won’t come.

On that path, perseverance stops being a grim duty and becomes the gym where steadfast love grows. We talk about practical tools to resist boredom and bitterness: naming specific provisions from God, replacing spiraling thoughts with gratitude, and seeking godly influence instead of isolation. As perseverance matures, praise follows—sometimes as a sacrifice, often as a spontaneous response to seeing God provide what we lacked. By the end, you’ll have a clear way to navigate winter-hearted days and a handful of Scriptures to keep your steps steady.

Ready to warm cold spaces with hope and action? Listen now, subscribe for future episodes, and share this with someone who needs a fresh start today. If it helped you, leave a quick review so more couples can find their way from winter to worship.

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