Why A Heart Of Thanksgiving Is Important For A Marriage After God

Show notes

About This Episode Thankfulness in marriage is necessary, and unthankfulness is destructive. In the season of thanksgiving, the meaning of thankfulness can easily be lost. Aaron and Jennifer look at why a thankful heart strengthens a marriage and how unthankfulness, which is really pride, hurts a couple's witness and ministry. They share honest stories, from Aaron's red cowboy boots to eating whatever families served them as missionaries in Africa, and look at Scripture that calls us to give thanks always and for everything, even in hard seasons. Thanking God in hard things is an act of trust. They finish with five practical tips for walking in thankfulness every day.

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 Thankfulness strengthens marriage — seeing your spouse with eyes of gratitude instead of unmet expectations. The red boots — Aaron's Christmas story about wanting a bike and receiving boots. Pride vs. humility — why unthankfulness says "I deserve more." Hurting our witness — Aaron's restaurant critic moment and what our kids learn from us. Thankful for everything — Ephesians 5 and thanking God even for the hard things. Trust — how unthankfulness tells God we know better, and what Job teaches us. God's will for you — rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. A sacrifice of thanksgiving — magnifying God with a thankful heart. Five tips — say it out loud, remind each other, thank God in prayer, make it a conversation, and post Scripture on your walls. Bonus — stop complaining.

Scripture Referenced Ephesians 5:15-21 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Psalm 69:30 Psalm 50:23

Resources from This Episode Take our 31-day marriage prayer challenge and join the 1000's of couples who have done it For more marriage encouragement: marriageaftergod.com For wives: unveiledwife.com · Unveiled Wife on Facebook For husbands: husbandrevolution.com · Husband Revolution on Facebook Check out our marriage resources! Instagram | @marriageaftergod Instagram | @unveiledwife Instagram | @husbandrevolution Get our new book The Marriage Gift - 365 prayers for your marriage! Full show notes and blog post

If this conversation encouraged you, please share it with a couple you love, and subscribe wherever you listen. Follow us on Instagram: Marriage After God · Unveiled Wife · Husband Revolution Want to go deeper? Become a patron and help us keep creating resources for marriages that pursue God together. Smith Family Resources, Inc © 2026

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