As my wife and I prepared for marriage, we received more warnings—and more tips, suggestions and recommendations for success—than we ever imagined. While working to absorb all of the information shared with us, we noticed a common thread: almost every couple has grappled with the tension of managing finances.

“You need to stay in constant communication,” they warned, or “if you don’t have separate bank accounts, you will never make it without fighting.” Could something as practical as finances reallycause a rift in my young marriage? Could this struggle reallylead to seemingly endless arguments?

Through the wisdom of others, I’ve learned the answer to this question: yes.

For some, financial security and personal security go hand-in-hand. Without the means to spend comfortably and support one another, pressure builds, tension mounts and everyday living feels increasingly uncertain. For others, mismatched expectations generate feelings of resentment and lack of trust. Each partner enters marriage with different spending habits; when those habits unite as part of one large plan, stress often ensues, leaving one partner angry and the other disappointed.

Seeking to move beyond any of these scenarios (whenever possible), I thought hard and prayed continually, asking the Lord to serve as my provider. I prayed that my wife and I would responsibly steward our resources—whatever the Lord entrusted us with—through all of our peaks and valleys. I asked for the patience to sort through frustrations and disagreements.

And then I breathed a sigh of relief.

You see, financial stress affects everyone. The rich, the poor, the famous—the struggle victimizes all. But by relying on God, and trusting in him as our ultimate provider, we can find hope, even in the midst of financial darkness.

If you constantly find yourself tangling with your spouse over the budget, or can’t seem to overcome the financial fight, turn to Scripture for encouragement. These four verses will get you started.

1. The Lord will provide for you and your spouse.
   And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs. – Philippians 4:19 (GNTD)
2. When finances feel tight, turn to the Lord.
   Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things. So do not worry about tomorrow; it will have enough worries of its own. There is no need to add to the troubles each day brings. ­– Matthew 6:33-34 (GNTD)
3. Honor the Lord with everything you have—great or small.
   Honor the Lord by making him an offering from the best of all that your land produces. – Proverbs 3:9 (GNTD)
4. Work for respectful conversations instead of arguments.
   Any fool can start arguments; the honorable thing is to stay out of them. – Proverbs 20:3 (GNTD)