A Prayer to Encourage Your Spouse When They're Struggling with Their Faith
By Kelly Balarie
“Love never fails.” -1 Cor. 13:8 NIV
Imagine walking beside a pool. Something grabs your attention. In the pool, a person is flailing their arms and struggling to gain air. Water splashes up and onto the sidewalk you walk on. You hear the loud gasps of air. Your hands get clammy. You know you have to act fast. Either you jump in and save them, or they’ll drown. Either you throw a life preserver in, or it’s over. You are the only hope for them living…Often, this is how we feel when a spouse is struggling with faith.
We must act fast, or it will be all over for them. We must react quickly, or things will not be okay. We need to give them the answer or they’re going under. We should have the advice, the teaching, and the godly solution, or it won’t end well…Our fear often makes us manhandle the struggling faith of a spouse, believing everything is about to take a turn for the worst.
Ever been there? I know I have.
- I offer advice, but it falls flat.
- I give wise solutions; they are unwanted.
- I present long lectures on God’s faithfulness that are disregarded.
- I come up with insights on why God may be doing what He is doing; they are not received.
- I jump in to encourage to no end; I get no thanks.
- In the end, what I’ve learned through years of marriage is to never jump in to fix what God is working out with a spouse. It is an error to get in the way of God.
When we see a spouse struggling in faith, it is wise to remember that God is up to something. Backing away doesn’t mean we don’t care; it means we are about to engage in the battle a different way– through prayer. A spouse who prays knows that while advice-giving words may hold a fragment of truth, only God’s words speak volumes. Volumes that change the storylines, people’s hearts, their outlooks, their behaviors and their futures –in ways our best fix-it solutions never could. Will we trust our spouse to God?
One time, I thought I had the right answer for my husband. I knew exactly the move he should make when it came to a business deal. Yet, the Holy Spirit nudged me not to speak and to instead pray. I prayed that he would make the right decision for days, and shortly, my husband turned to me and said, “You know, I had this funny idea…” The idea he shared was exactly what I thought he should do. It is far more powerful to let a person arrive at their own conclusion with God than it is to conclude things for them.
A God-sized answer is far weightier than man’s answer. And it’s worth waiting for…To love someone enough to allow them to walk out their faith, to learn vital lessons along the way, and to still stand by them with faith is an act of patience and kindness. These are key attributes of love (see 1 Cor. 13). “Love never fails.” (1 Cor. 13:8 NIV)
Let’s pray:
Father, I lift up my spouse to you. I ask you to encourage them in all their ways. I ask you to mount them up in fresh strength and to give them faith for believing. May they increasingly trust in you. I ask you to speak truth to set them free from all sin, all doubt, and all fear. Show them your faithfulness. Reveal your ways to them. Lead them to your Word. Refresh and encounter them via your heart of love. Keep them from evil and temptation. Lead them in all their ways. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Drazen Zigic
Related Resource: How to Choose Your One Word for 2026
This month on the How to Study the Bible Podcast, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year. In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.
Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.
This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
