Talking about sex can feel awkward—even with the person you love most. But avoiding the conversation doesn't make the issues disappear. It often creates more distance.

In this episode, Dr. Kim and Nancy have an honest, grace-filled conversation about building a healthy sexual relationship through open communication, emotional safety, and mutual respect. They share lessons from their own marriage, discuss why every couple experiences different seasons of intimacy, and offer practical ways to have conversations about sex without shame, fear, or defensiveness.

Whether you've been married for six months or sixty years, this episode will encourage you to communicate with honesty, pursue one another with love, and create an environment where intimacy can continue to grow.

Main Takeaways:

Every marriage experiences different seasons of intimacy—and that's normal.

The healthiest conversations about sex happen when both spouses feel safe, heard, and respected.

Comparison is one of the quickest ways to create dissatisfaction in your marriage.

Small, honest conversations build stronger intimacy than avoiding difficult topics.

A thriving sex life isn't about perfection—it's about pursuing one another with love, grace, and intentionality.

Quotes from this Episode:

"Our marriage is not just about sex. It's about all of life, and our intimacy has to fit the season we're in."

"When you approach conversations about sex with love instead of criticism, you're setting your marriage up to grow instead of to fail."

"Don't compare your marriage to Hollywood or someone else's story. You have to define what works best for the two of you."

"Stay at the comfort level of the person who's least comfortable. There's always another way to build intimacy together."

"It's not really about the quantity of sex—it's about the quality of the connection."

"The goal isn't proving who's right. The goal is making your marriage better together."

"We've always approached these conversations with love, not a critical spirit."

"Nothing is more personal than your own body, so sharing it with someone else is the ultimate vulnerability."

"Warmth is the best culture to keep between you when you're talking about intimacy."

"Emotional safety is foundational. It's hard to be sexually vulnerable if you don't feel emotionally safe."

Time to Talk About it:

What helps you feel the safest, most loved, and most connected to me—both emotionally and physically?

Are there any conversations about our intimacy that we've been avoiding? If so, what's one small step we could take to talk about them with honesty and grace?

What's one thing I do that makes you feel pursued, appreciated, or desired, and what's one thing I could do more often?

What would it take to take our sex life up one point? How can we make that happen?

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Sign up for our daily One Thing email!

• Our Love Making Survey is a great way to keep conversational loving rather than critical.

• Sex is intended to be a gift for your marriage, if you're having a hard time talking about it with your spouse, try this resource: 62 Questions About Sex.

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. You'll love our 14 Keys to Lasting Love. Check it out with your spouse!

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• Be the first to hear about all things Awesome Marriage, receive monthly bonus content straight from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy, and take advantage of big discounts by becoming a Marriage Changer!

Our spouse hears messages every day from the world—criticism, pressure, comparison, and doubt. But what if home became the place where they were reminded of who they are, what they're capable of, and how deeply they're loved?

In this episode, Dr. Kim and Nancy talk about the power of encouragement in marriage and why your words carry more weight than anyone else's. They share personal stories from their own marriage, practical ways to encourage your spouse authentically, and how couples can replace patterns of criticism with a culture of support. Whether your marriage is thriving or you've fallen into a habit of negativity, this conversation will challenge you to become your spouse's greatest encourager.

Quotes from this Episode:

Dr. Kim

1. "I don't care what anyone else thinks. Hearing your encouragement makes all the difference in the world."

2. "When your spouse gets more encouragement from someone else than from you, there's a void in the marriage."

3. "Your encouragement is meant to build your spouse up, not put them in the box you want them to fit in."

4. "The more you become a student of your spouse, the more you'll know how to encourage them in ways that truly matter."

5. "When I ask God to help me see you through His eyes, I'm flooded with good things to tell you."

6. "When you see yourselves as a team, encouragement becomes part of how you do life together."

1. "Your spouse is the most important person in your life. What they say carries more weight than anyone else's words."

2. "Sometimes we simply need our spouse to say, 'You can do this.' Those words can make all the difference."

3. "Living in a fallen world makes negativity come naturally, but that's not how God designed our marriages."

4. "Specific encouragement is powerful because it reminds your spouse of the unique gifts and strengths God has given them."

5. "A look or a tone can discourage just as much as words."

6. "When I pray for you, it changes my heart. It changes the way I see you."

Time to Talk About it:

1. When do you feel the most encouraged by me? What specific words or actions help you feel seen, valued, and believed in?

2. Have criticism or negativity become a habit in any area of our marriage? What's one intentional way we can replace those patterns with encouragement this week?

3. How can I better support what God is doing in your life instead of trying to shape you into who I think you should be?

Mentioned in this Episode:

• Sign up for our daily One Thing email!

• Struggling with your attitude toward your spouse? Find it hard to encourage someone you feel disconnected from? Our Reframing Challenge will help!

• Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. You'll love our 4 Days to Growing Gratitude in Marriage . Check it out with your spouse!

• If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !

• Be the first to hear about all things Awesome Marriage, receive monthly bonus content straight from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy, and take advantage of big discounts by becoming a Marriage Changer!