Happily Ever After

Are you working on or toward your marriage this Valentine’s Day? When God brought our son Linus into our lives, we knew we would need to be intentional about caring for our marriage as we learned to love each other more deeply. Published for Desiring God by Cruciform Press, Happily Ever After is a book filled with 30 devotions for couples about finding grace in the messiness of marriage.

30 Devotions

Those familiar with Desiring God will recognize many of the contributors. Marshall Segal, David Mathis, and, of course, John Piper are included. You will also find Francis Chan, P. J. Tibayan, Douglas Wilson, and Don Whitney. Because this is a book for couples, women contributors are featured as well, including Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Kim Cash Tate, and Stacy Reaoch.

These 30 devotions cover a wide range of topics—from submission to sex. Since the book is just over 100 pages, each devotion is fewer than five pages long. They are short and accessible, yet packed with spiritual truth.

For Couples

Each devotion typically centers on one key passage of Scripture. Practical steps or real-life examples are often included for application. Some devotions are more poetic in tone than others, but each one offers a clear takeaway and meaningful discussion points. In fact, every chapter concludes with a “Talk About It” section designed to help couples engage the material together.

I most appreciated Chapter 17, “A Possible Marriage-Saver in Nine Steps.” In it, John Piper reflects on Colossians 3:13 and thoughtfully applies it to real-life marriage. It is a lesson on bearing with one another and practicing forgiveness. I have seen this pattern play out in my own marriage, and it is comforting to know that even Christians can struggle in these areas. Piper wisely points us to the Holy Spirit—patient and relentless—who does not let us go. It is a hopeful and encouraging reminder of God’s sustaining grace.

Finding Grace

This book is different from most marriage books. It is not structured as a comprehensive guide or step-by-step manual. Rather, it is a devotional meant to draw couples closer together, press both husband and wife into biblical truth, and present Jesus and his bride as the ultimate meaning of marriage. It lifts your eyes off yourself, helps you look beyond your spouse, and fixes your gaze on Christ.

I received a media copy of Happily Ever After (Amazon) and this is my honest review. Find more of my book reviews and follow Dive In, Dig Deep on Instagram - my account dedicated to Bibles and books to see the beauty of the Bible and the role of reading in the Christian life. To read all of my book reviews and to receive all of the free eBooks I find on the web, subscribe to my free newsletter.