If you believe most of the marriage myths and bad news about marriage, you can get discouraged. But today, we have some good news about marriage. Author and researcher Shaunti Feldhahn studied 5 marriage myths and proved them wrong!
In her new book, The Good News About Marriage, Shaunti says that these marriage myths aren’t just inaccurate, they’re dangerous! Here’s how she puts it:
Essentially, the subconscious bad news beliefs about marriage and divorce are like a slow-acting poison. It is not that a couple starts out halfway expecting to fail (although that might be the case for some). Most start out believing—truly believing—that they will beat the statistics. “We’re going to be in the 50 percent that make it,” they think on their glorious wedding day. But the first time they have a major string of arguments, some start worrying. Somewhere down deep, they start thinking that they might be in the wrong half after all.
Here’s the truth about 5 marriage myths…
- The actual divorce rate has never been close to 50 percent. It’s significantly lower and has been declining over the last thirty years.
- Most marriages aren’t just so-so. The vast majority are happy.
- The rate of divorce in the church is not the same as among the non-churchgoing population. It too is significantly lower.
- Remarriages aren’t doomed. A significant majority survive and thrive.
- Most marriage problems aren’t caused by big-ticket issues. So being in a marriage, or fixing a troubled one, doesn’t have to be as complicated as people think. Little things can often make a big difference.
Ultimately, we simply think it is important for you to hear the truth we found in the numbers and see the very real, overwhelming evidence for some heartening conclusions about marriage, not just the discouraging ones you have heard up until now. Yes, some very real bad news is out there. But the good news is out there too. And it can give some much needed encouragement to marriages today.
To learn more about the truth about marriage, check out Shaunti’s book. And if you feel discouraged about your marriage, here are some ideas to help.
What do you do when you feel discouraged in your marriage?
Shaunti Feldhahn is a bestselling author, popular public speaker, and groundbreaking researcher. This wife and mother now applies her analytical skills to illuminating those important, surprising truths that people really need to understand about each other.
