Despite what statistics may indicate and what societal pressures may be for couples who are in a military marriage, the fact is that it can work for you. It’s easy to miss the stories of families who are sticking together despite the statistics that seem to work against them. Here are tips from two women who know just what it takes to make their marriage work despite the stress that threatens to jump in on your marriage.

What is it that makes marriage work? In a word and from straight from military families—it’s faith. 

One native Hoosier and mom of three talks about prayer as the driving force for helping her and husband survive the challenges of having a son in the military:

“We pray. The only way I can cope is with the faith that my son has a divine purpose for being where he is. Before our son left, our family created a devotional flip calendar. The calendar included prayers, scripture, pictures, and even humor. Every day was prayed for before he left. We understand that his deployment is more than just a job. It’s a ministry. He is leading his friends to the Lord. He is counseling them as several of his friends and their spouses are struggling with their deployment.”

Another military daughter talks about her own marriage as a mom of five to her husband who is also in the military. She shares a similar sentiment about the role of faith in God and in her husband’s calling and how it has impacted their marriage throughout his deployment.

“Faith first. That is the foundation of our marriage and our answer to all the doubts, struggles, fears and joys that come with serving God and Country. We couldn’t get through it without our trust in the Lord. The understanding and meaning of the commitment of a soldier and his family have made when they signed up is also crucial. I can’t explain how many times my prayer has been for patience with the job itself and how many long hours away from family have been worked. But when you remember who your spouse is working towards, it helps.”

What the statistics don’t always do a great job of pointing out is what Christian couples are doing and how that is making a significant difference in keeping marriages intact. If you start first with Christ and you and your spouse are committed to following the faith, you already have a lot going for you.

Yes, sometimes the statistics do bear out, but our faith is bigger than those and your marriage can be too.