Can Two People Love Jesus and Still Be Spiritually Mismatched? Ep. 734
Awesome Marriage Podcast
Dr. Kim Kimberling
4.9 • 813 Ratings
🗓️ 23 June 2026
⏱️ 16 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Prayer, Bible reading, and spiritual leadership are all good things, but what happens when faith becomes a source of tension instead of connection in marriage?
In this episode, Dr. Kim tackle the unhealthy spiritual dynamics that can quietly create distance between spouses: spiritual superiority, spiritual withdrawal, and using faith as a weapon. While most couples don't intend to hurt each other spiritually, it's easy to fall into patterns that leave one spouse feeling judged, inadequate, or alone.
He discusses why spiritual loneliness can be so painful in marriage, how comparison and pressure shut down connection, and what it looks like to pursue spiritual intimacy in a way that invites both spouses closer to God and each other.
If you've ever felt frustrated that your spouse isn't where you'd like them to be spiritually, or if you've ever felt like you could never measure up, this conversation offers practical encouragement and hope for building a healthier, more united spiritual foundation.
Episode Highlights:
When Faith Creates Distance Instead of Connection
The Hidden Damage of Spiritual Superiority and Withdrawal
Moving from Weaponized Faith to Shared Faith
Quotes from This Episode:
God designed marriage as the most intimate of all earthly relationships.
There's a oneness God intended for marriage that touches every aspect of life.
When one spouse longs to pray together and it never happens, it doesn't just feel frustrating it feels lonely.
Loneliness can turn into resentment or even despair.
Nothing will shut your spouse down faster than feeling spiritually inferior in their own home.
The spouse that feels like they can never measure up will stop engaging.
When scripture becomes a sword instead of a shared foundation something has gone badly wrong.
Spiritual growth cannot be forced. You can model it. You can invite. But you cannot drag your spouse into a deeper faith any more than someone could have dragged you. God does that work.
Time to Talk About it:
Are you feeling disconnected from your spouse spiritually?
If you are, have you approached your spouse honestly with your concerns?
Ask them: How can we use our faith to encourage each other rather than pressure, correct, or compare one another?
Mentioned in This Episode:
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Do you feel misunderstood and defeated when it comes to disagreements with your spouse? Feeling misunderstood in conflict is usually a sign of something deeper. This assessment walks you through what needs to change, step by step.
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Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. If you're feeling disconnected from your spouse, try this plan together: 7 Prayers to Grow Your Marriage.
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If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !
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It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer you'll receive exclusive content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy as well as our resource of the month! Become a Marriage Changer today!
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | So let me ask you something that might make you just a little bit uncomfortable. |
| 0:05.0 | You and your spouse both love Jesus. |
| 0:08.0 | You're both in church, you're both believers, so why does it feel like you're living in two completely different spiritual worlds? |
| 0:16.0 | Because maybe you're the one who wants to pray together, but every time you bring it up, it just |
| 0:21.7 | feels awkward, or it never happens at all. |
| 0:25.4 | Maybe you're the one who gets energized by digging into Scripture, but your spouse seems |
| 0:29.1 | fine with a surface-level faith and doesn't understand why it matters so much to you. |
| 0:36.8 | Maybe it's flipped. Maybe your spouse is deep in their walk with God, |
| 0:41.3 | and you feel like you can't keep up. |
| 0:43.3 | And that gap quietly produces shame |
| 0:46.3 | that you haven't told anybody about. |
| 0:49.3 | So whatever side you're on, |
| 0:51.3 | here's the question I want you to sit with today. Can two people love Jesus and still be spiritually mismatched? |
| 0:59.0 | Do you want real growth in your marriage without information overload? |
| 1:03.0 | Our marriage multiplier email delivers four practical things in one simple email, |
| 1:09.0 | designed to multiply connection, improve conversation, |
| 1:12.3 | and bring back intentionality for things, one email, lots of growth. Sign up today. |
| 1:18.7 | When most people hear the phrase spiritually mismatch, they immediately believe or think about a |
| 1:23.9 | believer married to a non-believer, right? And that's a real dynamic. |
| 1:27.8 | We've talked about on the podcast before. |
| 1:30.4 | But today I'm not talking about that. |
| 1:32.9 | I'm talking about two committed Christians who are genuinely, sincerely in love with Jesus |
... |
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