Welcome to the Paul Tripp podcast, where pastor and best-selling author Dr. Paul David Tripp connects the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.

In today's episode, we'll listen to the first session from Paul's conference, What Did You Expect, Redeeming the Realities of Marriage?

In it, Paul provides a foundation that any couple can use

to have the solid roots for a good marriage. Here's Paul. What were the expectations that fueled

your hopes and your dreams in your marriage? Maybe the more dangerous question is this. How close have you come to realizing

your expectations? I just saw a wife do this to her husband. That means not close. I think

there are thousands and thousands of couples that get married every year with unrealistic

expectations.

I'd be sitting with a future husband and a future wife, and the future wife would look at her

husband with sort of glassy, romantic eyes and say something like this.

I don't think I could ever be angry at him. I'm angry just to hear

it because I know where that's going to go. Maybe it all starts with the weirdness of Western

culture dating. Can we talk? I don't know why I'm asking permission, I'm going to.

I think Western culture dating is just a step above use car sales.

Because when you're dating, the last thing you want is for that person to get to know you.

So a man who doesn't like to shop will shop.

He'll say, yesterday, I'd love to go to another 12 stores to look

for those shoes that are in your head and probably never ever been produced. Because

darling, when I'm with you, I'm shop-alistic. A woman who doesn't like sports will watch

sports. She'll say, yes, dear, I'd love to watch another game. Now, somewhere in the middle of a game, she'll give it away.

She'll say something like this.

My, aren't their uniforms cute?

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