Relationship Prescriptions with Dr. Carol

In this episode, we take up one of the most painful and frequently asked questions in the church: What about God and divorce? Whether someone is in a miserable marriage, has been left by a spouse, or is carrying the wounds of divorce, this conversation is both challenging and important. 

We unpack the biblical meaning of covenant, and why divorce is so devastating—not because it ranks highest on some hierarchy of sins, but because it tears apart something God intended to reflect His faithful love. "God hates divorce" is not condemnation, but is a window into the grief of a Father who sees His children wounded. Jesus' own words acknowledge that divorce exists "because of the hardness of human hearts," naming both the reality of human cruelty and the complexity of real-life situations.

And we offer careful discernment rather than simplistic rules. There are reasons not to leave a marriage, and there are situations where separation or divorce may become necessary. This episode invites listeners to seek God's wisdom above all else, to invite trusted voices who will ask hard questions, and to pray honestly, "Lord, who are You calling me to be in this season?" Throughout Scripture, God speaks to His people as a betrayed yet faithful spouse—and this episode holds that tension: the seriousness of covenant, the pain of its rupture, and the relentless faithfulness of a God who does not abandon us, even when we break faith with Him.

These articles from Dr. Carol may be helpful for you: 
5 Ways to Pray About Your Troubled Marriage
Is My Marriage Toxic?
How to Know if You Are Released From Your Marriage
Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness.       
Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol       
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

Today Dr. Carol is joined by Lindsey Maestas, a writer and podcast host known for saying the hard things gently, and for telling the truth about love with honesty, depth, and compassion. Together, we talk about what happens when the feeling of being "in love" begins to fade, and why romance alone is never enough to sustain a relationship. Lindsey shares vulnerable stories about her own marriage, including a season when she was ready to call it quits, and the inner shifts that led her to choose staying, growth, and daily faithfulness instead of walking away.

We explore common relational patterns that quietly erode intimacy over time, including attachment dynamics, icing one another out, and making a partner responsible for needs only God can truly meet. She also speaks candidly about phone addiction, modern distraction, and the ways divided attention weakens connection and intimacy.

And there's plenty of hope and practical wisdom, contrasting grand gestures with the power of daily consistency. We talk about habits, self-discipline, and small, repeated investments that keep love alive over the long haul. This conversation invites listeners to embrace a deeper, steadier vision of love, one rooted not in fleeting feelings, but in presence, intention, and choosing one another again and again.

Connect with Lindsey Maestas on her website or Instagram.
Find Lindsey's book Don't Burn Your Own House Down: Prioritizing Your Marriage, Your Spouse, and Yourself for a Deeper Connection    


Check out the marriage resources at Dr. Carol Ministries
Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness.       
Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol       
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

You've heard of the Five Love Languages. But what's next? In this episode, we're joined by marriage and family therapist and author Leslie Parrot to explore what it really means to love in ways that are not just well-intended, but deeply felt. Good intentions alone aren't enough, but empathy and curiosity help bridge the gap between how we express love and how it's actually received. Drawing from decades of clinical experience and relational wisdom, Leslie offers insight into why a deeper understanding of love languages matters, not as a formula, but as a pathway to deeper connection.

And what fills your "love tank", or that of someone you care about? This isn't only for marriage; we also widen the lens to consider how these principles apply in friendships, families, and other relationships. We discuss how personality shapes the way we give and receive love, why each love language includes different "dialects," and how becoming a better listener is central to loving well. This episode invites you to slow down, listen more deeply, and practice a kind of love that doesn't just get expressed, but truly lands.

Connect with Les and Leslie Parrott on their website, Facebook, or Instagram.
Find the book by Gary Chapman, and Les and Leslie Parrott: The Love Language That Matters Most: How to Personalize Love So They Really Feel It   
Check out the 5 Love Languages® Premium Assessment
Join Les and Leslie Parrott and other experts online during National Marriage Week, February 7-14. Check it out.

Check out the marriage resources at Dr. Carol Ministries
Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness.       
Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol       
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

Dr. Linda Seiler decided to follow Jesus in high school, but her sexual and emotional struggles didn't simply disappear. In this episode, she shares her own story and the insight she's gained through decades of ministry and trauma-informed care. Now an ordained Assemblies of God minister and Executive Director of ReStory Ministries, Linda helps us explore what was missing in the early years of her faith journey and why sincere belief alone often isn't enough to bring freedom. We talk candidly about how modern culture frames sexual orientation and gender identity as fixed and immutable, and why Linda believes there is always a reason beneath the behavior—and therefore real hope for resolution.

This conversation offers deep compassion for those who feel discouraged, weary, or stuck in repeated cycles or sin or brokenness. We explore where healing actually begins: love, truth, identity in Christ, and community—not performance or results-driven spirituality. Linda cautions against turning transformation itself into an idol and invites listeners into a more patient, grace-filled vision of change. If you've ever wondered why change takes so long, how trauma shapes desire, or how identity and belonging influence healing, this episode offers clarity, hope, and a wider vision of redemption.


Connect with Dr. Linda Seiler at her website, ReStory Ministries, or Facebook.
Find Linda's book Trans-Formation: A Former Transgender Responds to LGBTQ

Find out more about Dr. Carol Ministries in-person intensives - a safe place to unpack your story around intimacy and relationships, and experience Jesus coming into your story to bring healing and wholeness.       
Find out more about individual coaching with Dr. Carol       
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.

Need some marriage wisdom? Greg Smalley has spent his entire life immersed in conversations about marriage. As the son of the late Gary Smalley—and now Vice President of Marriage and Family Formation at Focus on the Family—Greg has witnessed up close both the beauty and the messiness of intimate relationships. In this conversation, Greg reflects on why he chose to step into this demanding work, what drew him to a calling so intertwined with his family legacy, and how his own 30+ year marriage to Erin has shaped what he teaches today. 

We also explore how marriage challenges have shifted over the decades. From cultural pressure and emotional disconnection to technology, stress, and changing expectations, Greg offers perspective on what's new, what's intensified, and what remains surprisingly constant. Finally, he distills decades of ministry into a few core factors that consistently mark marriages that go the distance. Whether you're newly married, decades in, or simply hopeful about love, this episode offers grounded wisdom, encouragement, and a hopeful vision for building a marriage that lasts.

Find out more and connect with Greg Smalley through his resources at Focus on the Family
Check out the podcast Greg and his wife Erin Smalley do together - Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage
Find Greg's book 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage: And the Truths That Will Save It and Set It Free


Check out the marriage resources at Dr. Carol Ministries
Dr. Carol loves to hear from you. You can send a confidential message here.