Book excerpt: A Blueprint for Building a Love that Lasts Marriage begins with visions of eternal love, hope, and happiness. Yet, even among Christians, hope too quickly fades. The happiness dims. And love seems too hard to sustain. It doesn’t have to be that way. God designed marriage to be a satisfying, fulfilling relationship, and He created men and women so that they–together, and as one flesh–could reflect His love for the world. Marriage, when lived out as God intended, makes us complete, it brings us joy, and gives our lives fresh meaning. In this study, you’ll examine God’s design for marriage, and you’ll learn, from the Designer’s perspective, what it means to be a godly husband or wife. You’ll discover biblical wisdom for pursuing harmony in difficult areas such as finances, communication, and respect for each other’s roles. Most important, you’ll learn the principles you need to build a love that lasts.