Many couples enter marriage with a silent expectation: This person will make me happy. But what happens when real life shows up—when the dishes pile up, conflict hits, and unmet needs start to echo through the silence?

In Marriage: 6 Gospel Commitments Every Couple Needs to Make, author and pastor Paul David Tripp delivers a powerful truth: marriage is not a pursuit of happiness—it’s a pursuit of holiness. And the tool God often uses to grow and mature us is, in fact, our spouse.

At CoupleStrong, we know the work of marriage is sacred—not because it’s easy, but because it forms us. Tripp’s book reminds us that true transformation doesn’t come from finding the “perfect partner,” but from living out daily grace with the one we’ve chosen.

The Problem Isn’t Just Your Marriage—It’s Your Expectations

Tripp begins by dismantling one of the biggest myths in marriage: that our spouse is responsible for our emotional fulfillment. This mindset often leads to disappointment, frustration, and blame.

Instead, he encourages couples to see marriage through a different lens: one of gospel-centered commitment, where each partner:

• Acknowledges their own flaws.
• Extends forgiveness.
• Pursues growth—not perfection.

This approach reframes the struggles not as failures, but as opportunities for transformation.

Six Commitments That Change Everything

Tripp outlines six gospel commitments that form the foundation of a thriving marriage:

1. We will give ourselves to a regular lifestyle of confession and forgiveness.
   No sweeping things under the rug. No pretending everything’s fine. Just honest humility—and the courage to repair.
2. We will make growth and change our daily agenda.
   Marriage isn't static. It requires a shared vision of becoming—not just staying together.
3. We will work together to build a sturdy bond of trust.
   This trust isn't built on grand gestures—but on daily consistency, presence, and follow-through.
4. We will commit to building a relationship of love.
   Not just affection, but sacrificial love. The kind that stays when it's hard, that listens when it's inconvenient.
5. We will deal with our differences with appreciation and grace.
   Your spouse isn’t wrong for being different—they’re valuable. Even when they stretch you.
6. We will work to protect our marriage.
   In a world of distraction and temptation, intentional protection is not optional—it’s essential.

Grace Is the Glue

At the heart of Tripp’s message is grace—grace that says, “I see your flaws, and I’m still here.” It’s the grace that calls you both to more, while refusing to shame or condemn. It’s the kind of love that mirrors the very heart of God.

This doesn't mean ignoring toxic behavior or staying in unsafe situations. Rather, it's a call to choose compassion over criticism, accountability over avoidance, and connection over control.

CoupleStrong and the Gospel of Growth

At CoupleStrong, we believe deeply in what Tripp teaches: that marriage is not a contract of convenience, but a covenant of commitment. It’s a place where both people are refined—not through ease, but through effort, truth, and grace.

We equip couples to:

• Communicate with humility and courage.
• Repair emotional wounds through confession and accountability.
• Prioritize growth over blame.
• Recenter their relationship around values that last.

Because when couples live out these gospel-centered commitments, their marriage becomes more than functional—it becomes formational.

Want to grow your marriage in the ways that matter most?

Join our Couples Tracks, explore our Marriage Challenges, or sign up for Couples Notes for daily inspiration rooted in grace, purpose, and commitment.

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