Articles by “Chris Grace”

Complex emotions like shame, embarrassment and guilt are often the source of deep relational pain, disconnecting us from the ones we love. In this blog, Dr. Chris Grace shares how we can overcome the power of shame and actually use it to strengthen our relationships.

While some relationships are so toxic that it is unwise and unsafe to continue in them, there are also valuable relationships that are worth saving. Read Dr. Chris Grace's blog to discover three key differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships, and 10 things you can do when a good relationship starts to go bad.

An important way you can grow in spiritual intimacy with your spouse is to recognize how God created you and your partner to connect to Him. We are each made with different spiritual temperaments, and when we recognize the way our spouse is designed, we can more easily find opportunities and activities together that will support and encourage their connection to God. In this video, Dr. Chris Grace and Alisa Grace discuss the importance of understanding how your spouse connects to God. 

Forgiveness has an incredible impact on our relationships with friends, family and God. Most Americans say it is important to forgive, yet only 48 percent say they usually tried to forgive others. Why the gap? Read this blog on what it means to forgive and steps for how to grant forgiveness.

Growing up, most of us assumed that we will find an intimate other who would be our perfect match. In this blog, Dr. Chris Grace explores three types of compatibility that many experts agree are the most important when it comes to determining relationship health and success: personality, conflict and spiritual compatibility. Read to find out how to foster intimacy with the deepest types of core compatibilities.

Compatibility is a popular but confusing term. How do we know if it is a good match? Does it matter if we are generally more similar or different? Not all compatibility is created equally. In fact, matching up in one area may be pleasing and highly desirable, but may not be a good measure of future relationship health or success. Here are some things to think about, some things to avoid, and some things to be vigilant and prayerful about when it comes to compatibility with that special someone.

It’s happening again: your spouse made plans without telling you, or forgot to put the toilet seat down, or didn’t offer to do the dishes, and you’re seeing red. But are you really angry about the dishes? When emotions get triggered during hot button conflicts, it is important to be able to identify those hidden issues and understand what is happening at a deeper level. In this video, Dr. Chris Grace and Alisa Grace discuss how to understand one another and communicate when conflict arises in your relationship.

Should we find marriage mentors? This is a question that you may be asking of your marriage if you've hit a rough patch or feel disconnected. Whether you are a newlywed or have been married for many years, marriage mentoring can be an effective means to help you grow as a couple and move from striving to thriving. Read more to learn how you can pursue God's purpose for your marriage.