What should you look for when choosing a spouse? And if you had to get back out on the dating scene today, would you know where to start?

In this episode of The Glory & The Grind, Carly and Raleigh talk about dating with intention, building relationships on friendship, and discerning a spouse who will help you grow in holiness. From navigating hookup culture to knowing the difference between settling and accepting someone’s flaws, they explore what it means to approach dating with a purpose and a vision for lifelong commitment.

Rooted in Genesis 2:18, this conversation challenges us to look beyond attraction and ask a bigger question: Am I choosing someone who will help me get to heaven—and am I willing to do the same for them?

Whether you're single, dating, engaged, or already married, this episode invites you to reflect on what matters most in a relationship and how our faith should shape the way we love.

In This Episode

• Dating with intention: Moving beyond attraction to conviction and commitment.
• Building a fort vs. building a house: Why relationships need a strong foundation if they're going to last.
• Friendship first: The importance of building a genuine friendship before pursuing romantic love.
• Chastity and hookup culture: Seeing others as persons to be loved, not products to be used.
• Settling vs. accepting flaws: Learning the difference between compromising on what matters and loving someone with mature, self-giving love.
• Choosing a teammate: Why shared values, mutual support, and a willingness to grow together matter in marriage.
• Helping each other get to Heaven: Discerning whether a relationship draws both people closer to God.

God’s Promise of the Week

“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him.” — Genesis 2:18

God created us for relationships. Marriage is not simply about finding someone who makes us happy; it is about learning to love one another in a way that reflects God's design and helps both spouses grow in holiness.

Reflection Questions

When you imagine the person you want to spend your life with, what rises to the top of your list—and is faith on it?

If you're married, consider this: Your vocation is to help your spouse get to heaven. Are you both moving in that direction?

Coming Up Next

In our next episode, we're talking about embracing the seasons of life—not spring, summer, fall, and winter (or, as we say in the South, hot, sweltering, almost bearable, and January!), but the seasons we experience as we grow, change, and follow God's plan.

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Through the grind and the grace, we're praying for you—pray for us, too!

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