Additional Resources on Emotional Intimacy

When emotional intimacy is present in a marriage, you feel safe to share all your thoughts and feelings. Without it, your marriage functions only at surface level, where you are more like roommates than husband and wife. Being truly emotionally intimate requires more than a one-and-done confession. It requires continual practice and dedication.

Busy schedules, stress, or sin struggles can all interfere with your ability to share deeply and consistently with one another. It takes significant time to build and maintain the foundation of trust that emotional intimacy and vulnerability requires. So, when you listen to your spouse's feelings and confessions, seek to bear their burdens (Gal. 6:2) and forgive their sin against you. In doing so, you will find the oneness that God intends for your relationship.

Scriptures to Study

• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Matthew 19:9
• Galatians 6:2
• Colossians 3:13
• Colossians 3:18-19

Articles

• The Goldilocks Principle of Marriage by Kevin A. Thompson
• Marital Intimacy Is More Than Sex by Josh Squires
• Developing Emotional Intimacy by Shana Schutte
• Peter Says Wives Need Emotional Intimacy. What Is That? by Gary Yagel
• Emotional Affairs are a Dangerous Game in Marriage by Ben Wilson
• Six Lessons in Good Listening by David Mathis
• The Five Love Languages Personal Assessment for Couples by Gary Chapman
• 50 Ideas to Inspire Your Husband by Jan Breitenstein
• The Biggest Mistake I Made on My Wife’s Birthday by Scott Kedersha

Books

For Women:

• Feminine Appeal by Caroline Mahaney and Nancy DeMoss
• For Better or For Best: Understanding Your Husband by Gary Smalley
• For Women Only by Jeff and Saunti Feldahn
• Have a New Husband By Friday by Kevin Leman

For Men:

• For Men Only by Jeff and Shaunti Feldahn
• If Only He Knew: Understanding Your Wife by Gary Smalley
• Discovering the Mind of a Woman by Ken Nair

For Husband and Wife:

• The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary Chapman
• I Beg to Differ: Navigating Difficult Conversations with Truth and Love by Tim Muelhoff
• His Needs, Her Needs by Willard Harley

Videos

• re|engage: Emotional Intimacy by Scott and Kristen Kedersha
• Emotional Intimacy by Ryan McCarthy
• Understanding by Ryan McCarthy
• Brené Brown on Empathy by Dr Brené Brown

Podcasts

• re|engage: One-ness by John McGee