Every marriage has its moments. You accidently exceed the monthly budget, and your spouse feels frustrated and discouraged. Your spouse shares a thought about your in-laws and, no matter how hard to try to brush off the comment, you can’t help but engage in an argument.

Often, lofty pre-marital expectations send couples down a road of disappointment. The idealistic picture of marriage—perfectly-divided responsibilities, never-ending patience, flawlessly-aligned goals—typically proves unrealistic and unattainable. Spouses cause emotional pain that takes time to heal. Roles change and evolve over time. Everyday needs ebb and flow with changing circumstances.

Nearly every couple experiences these disagreements and frustrations. What happens when the tension builds, and marriage presents challenges and complications you never expected?

There’s no easy answer. But Scripture reminds us that through it all, one truth remains: even in a fallen world of sinners, God loves you—and he loves your spouse. Throughout the Bible, the Lord paints a picture of marriage that requires steadfast humility, abiding kindness and constant forgiveness. If you find yourself wrestling with unmet expectations today, bow your head and ask the Lord for hope and restoration through his Word. These four prayers will get you started:

1. Lord, help me love my spouse unconditionally.
   Above everything, love one another earnestly, because love covers over many sins. - 1 Peter 4:8 (GNTD)
2. Lord, help me forgive my spouse when confronting unmet expectations.
   Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ. – Ephesians 4:32 (GNTD)
3. Lord, help me practice patience and humility.
   Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another. Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives by means of the peace that binds you together. – Ephesians 4:2-3 (GNTD)
4. Lord, help me trust in you above all else.
   Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Whoever loves is a child of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. – 1 John 4:7-8 (GNTD)