Does Your Past Baggage Affect Your Present Marriage?

Show notes

About This Episode Using the picture of a backpack or laundry bag, Aaron and Jennifer discuss the kinds of baggage we might still be lugging around in life and marriage: past hurts, addictions, fears, and lies we believe about ourselves. Often these things are subconscious, but for the believer, God eventually works them to the surface. They share personal stories, including Aaron's harsh and argumentative communication style and the identity markers he held onto out of insecurity, and they talk about the difference between a thoughtful response and a quick reaction. Because it is easy to see our spouse's faults and hard to see our own, they offer four actionable steps for cleaning out baggage and invite you to let God adjust, heal, or eliminate whatever is holding you back from a peaceful, joyful marriage.

About Aaron & Jennifer Smith Aaron and Jennifer Smith are the founders of Marriage After God and authors of Husband After God, Wife After God, and Marriage After God. Married since 2007 and raising six children in Bend, Oregon, they started Husband Revolution and Unveiled Wife to share what God was teaching them, not from a place of having it figured out, but as fellow travelers pointing couples back to Jesus.

In This Episode The backpack we carry — how past hurts, fears, and lies follow us into marriage Reacting vs. responding — why baggage triggers quick reactions instead of self-controlled responses Aaron's baggage — a harsh communication style and the insecurity behind it The plank in your own eye — why we see our spouse's faults more clearly than our own Four steps to clean it out — humble yourself, confess it, pray for transformation, and request accountability Weekly challenge — surprise your spouse, or tackle a task they haven't had time for

Scripture Referenced 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 5:8; Romans 12:2; Matthew 7:3-5; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

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