The 3 Things That Tear Relationships Apart (and What to Do About Them)

Why do relationships so often fall apart? Maybe you’ve had a friendship suddenly end. Maybe things with family feel tense. Or maybe your marriage feels stuck. Whatever it is, it hurts — and you’re not alone.

In this episode of The Week Ahead Podcast, we look at the three big things that tear relationships apart — and some simple steps you can take toward healing.

Here’s what you’ll discover:

• The root of conflict, straight from the book of James
• The 3 main causes that damage relationships: pride, selfishness, and miscommunication
• Practical, everyday steps you can take to rebuild peace
• Why God’s grace is the key to lasting change

The truth is, conflict usually starts inside us before it shows up on the outside. Pride digs in its heels. Selfishness drains the other person. Miscommunication builds walls. But the good news is, none of these have to be the final word.

With God’s help, broken things can be mended. One apology. One act of service. One honest prayer.

So if there’s a relationship on your heart right now, don’t push it aside. Join me in this episode and take one small step toward peace.

We all mess up in relationships. Maybe you’ve said something you regret, and no matter how hard you try to fix it, the gap only seems to get wider. It’s painful when the people you love most are also the ones you clash with most.

In this episode of The Week Ahead Podcast, Ken Robinson shares a deeply personal story about how God transformed his relationship with his son.

What once seemed impossible — constant arguments, raised voices, even hopelessness — has become a restored relationship built on love and respect.

Ken explains how God first worked in his heart, teaching him patience, forgiveness, and the power of prayer. Along the way, he shares practical steps anyone can take when facing broken or strained relationships.

You’ll hear about:

• Why God often starts by changing us before changing the other person
• The freeing power of forgiveness, even when it’s hard
• How words can either burn bridges or build them
• Why prayer shifts our hearts and opens space for God to work

If you’ve ever felt stuck in a relationship, this episode will give you hope. God hasn’t given up. What feels impossible to you is not impossible for Him.

Listen in, be encouraged, and take one small step this week toward handing your relationship over to God. Visit kenrobinson.com for more content like this podcast.

Have you ever prayed with all your heart, only to be met with silence — or worse, a “no”?

Maybe it was a job you longed for, a relationship you hoped for, healing you desperately wanted, or a door you prayed would open. When the answer doesn’t come the way we expect, it can feel painful, confusing, and even shake our faith.

In Episode 21 of The Week Ahead Podcast, Ken Robinson unpacks the challenging but essential reality of unanswered prayer. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 12:8–9, where Paul pleads for his “thorn” to be removed, and Proverbs 16:9, which reminds us that the Lord directs our steps, Ken explores why God sometimes says no — and how that doesn’t mean He doesn’t love us or hasn’t heard us.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Why “no” is not rejection but often redirection.
• How God’s grace can be enough even when the thorn remains.
• How closed doors may actually be God’s protection.
• Practical ways to keep praying and trusting when life doesn’t go your way.

If you’ve ever wrestled with disappointment in prayer or felt discouraged by a closed door, this episode will encourage you to lean on God’s grace, trust His bigger picture, and find peace in His presence. A “no” today may be the path to a greater “yes” tomorrow.