Today about half of all marriages end in divorce with many of those not even making it to the first anniversary. We can discover the reasons these marriages failed and use that information to safeguard our own marriages. Some of the biggest issues that cause failed marriages are poor communication, arguments over financial issues, and even how and why the marriage took place to begin with.

In every relationship the ability to communicate is essential and marriage is no different. If the partners in a marriage close off to each other instead of working to resolve conflicts the problems just continue to grow larger under the surface until one or both partners explode. It is important to the success of the marriage to be able to talk to each other about dreams, hopes, and fears and feel safe about it. The bible says that “the two become one" in marriage. It is impossible for this to happen without good communication. It takes two to make a marriage work and if communication is an issue then both partners must agree to fix it.

Many couples enter into new marriages with financial problems. These problems can be anything from credit card debt to bankruptcy or even simply just not earning enough money. It is crucial that couples be honest with each other when it comes to financial matters. Almost nothing can throw cold water on a marriage faster than finding out one’s spouse has hidden major financial problems from their partner. If you don’t have a rock solid agreement to be open with each other in this area it can destroy your marriage quickly.

Another big issue is how the marriage came about in the first place. If someone feels forced into a marriage it can cause resentment that leads to the end of the marriage. For example if you get married just because of pregnancy or pressure from relatives that is not the right reason to be married. I have heard it said that you shouldn’t marry someone you can live with, but rather someone you can’t live without. I think that is a good standard to use. Ask yourself, “Can I really live without this person?"

Getting married too young can be a big factor in the failure of a marriage as well. It is far better to sow your wild oats and also get yourself straight financially than to rush into marriage in your teens or early twenties. Take the time to mature and know who you are before you try to share with someone else.