Navigating Bad Days Without Making Them a Bad Marriage Ep. 719

Awesome Marriage Podcast

Dr. Kim Kimberling

Christianity, Relationships, Society & Culture, Religion & Spirituality

4.9 • 813 Ratings

🗓️ 24 March 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today, Dr. Kim is joined by his bride, Mrs. Nancy, to talk about the freedom that comes from allowing yourself, your spouse, and your marriage to have a bad day without making it something bigger than it is. They share how they navigate the hard days, avoid the spiral of negative thoughts, and bounce back with grace and compassion toward one another. Your marriage is a gift—be encouraged to let bad days simply be days without letting them erode your view of your marriage.

Episode Highlights:

Everyone has bad days.

Early warning signs that you're starting to spiral.

The danger of turning your spouse into your opponent.

The Lord has seen you through bad days in the past, be encouraged He can do it again this time.

The powerful role grace plays when your spouse has little to give.

See how our marriages are the textbooks for our children to learn from for their future marriages.

Quotes from this Episode:

When I try to force something and Nancy isn't ready, it's not going to go well.

In everything you have to realize you're still on the same team. So, how can you help your spouse?

The problem is the opponent. Satan rejoices when we are fighting, when we are angry with one another. -Mrs. Nancy

Satan hates marriage. He hates christian marriages. He loves to destroy them.

Every marriage can be a witness for the Lord.

Being a role model for your kids, being the text book on marriage that your children need is a huge responsibility.

Sometimes you have to dig down deep and find that love for your spouse. You don't have to feel it all the time, but remember that it's there. - Mrs. Nancy

Once I learned to get past myself and get past my pride, and start giving you grace, it was a great feeling. -Mrs. Nancy

Be vulnerable enough to say "I don't have much to give." Then as a spouse, "what can I do to help you." Just that is a step forward in growing your marriage.

Take whatever is bothering you and give it to the Lord. As a christian you are forgiven anyway! - Mrs. Nancy

Worrying about your marriage shows you care about it. Showing up for counseling means you care about your marriage.

Don't compare your marriage to someone else's by what they post on Facebook.

Time to Talk About It:

How are we viewing our marriage right now?
Think about the last time we had a "bad day" in our marriage. What helped us move past it, and how can we remember to do that again next time?
What helps each of us reset after a hard moment or a tense day—space, reassurance, prayer, a conversation, or something else?
What is one simple way we could extend more grace to each other the next time one of us is having a bad day?

Mentioned in This Episode:

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Make sure you're checking in with your spouse every week with our FREE Weekly Marriage Check in Guide!
Your words, your tone, your attitude- they all matter in how your spouse hears you and how connected your marriage feels. Check out our new devotional: Cut the Criticism and Cultivate Companionship in Marriage

Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Have negative thoughts about your spouse slowly replaced the positive ones? You need to start Mind Craft: Take Your Thoughts Captive to Transform Your Marriage today!
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 !
It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer before March 31, you'll receive our Most Popular Resource Bundle — 10 powerful marriage tools with a combined value of $185. Become a Marriage Changer today!

Transcript

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0:00.0	For me, it's learning that giving grace really is more just realizing that most of the time you give, you can, in that situation.
0:10.0	And so instead of me judging it, or, well, you were this way yesterday or last week or this, why are you here?
0:17.0	It's like, man, this is going on. We talk about that. and then knowing that you're doing your best, and then you're not going
0:24.1	to get stuck with it.
0:25.1	That's right.
0:26.1	And if you do, we'll get help.
0:27.1	You know, once I learned to get past myself, get past my pride, and start giving you
0:34.6	grace, it was a great being. Both ways.
0:39.3	Yeah.
0:40.3	You know, it is.
0:41.3	It really is.
0:42.3	Because I think the recipient, yeah, I feel that.
0:45.3	Yeah, of course you do.
0:47.3	What a stronger marriage without another overwhelming to-do list?
0:50.3	Well, the awesome Marriage One Thing email series delivers one simple, meaningful
0:55.5	action each day to help you reconnect, communicate better, and grow closer, emotionally and spiritually.
1:02.0	One thing? When email, healthier marriage, sign up today. After more than 45 years of marriage,
1:08.8	we can tell you this. Bad days are unavoidable.
1:12.8	We've had plenty of them ourselves.
1:14.6	What we've learned over time is that both in our own marriage and through years of counseling
1:19.1	other couples is that bad days don't have to turn into bad marriage.
1:23.4	In this conversation today, we want to share what's help us interrupt the spiral, help how we
	...

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