How Marriage Changes After Kids Leave Home - Crosswalk PLUS Marriage Devotional

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How Marriage Changes After Kids Leave Home
By Jennifer Waddle

“Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God.” (Titus 2:2-3 NLT)

For years, your home was a hub of activity, including constant loads of laundry, last-minute grocery runs, homework spread across the dining room table, and noise levels that sometimes drove you crazy. Then, almost before you realized it, the kids left home, and everything changed.

When the nest becomes empty, couples don’t always know what to do with each other. The focus shifts from the constant demands of family life to intentionally caring for one another again. And honestly, this transition can be challenging.

Here are a few ways marriage changes after kids leave home, and tips on how to welcome these changes with a bright outlook for the future.

Conversations that once revolved around your children’s needs are now open to deep and meaningful discussions. You now have the opportunity to stay up late talking about everything and nothing. You get to experience the freedom of uninterrupted time together. And there are no little voices calling for your attention.

Rather than allowing the silence to create distance between you, embrace this peaceful season as an open door to share your heart, laugh often, and dream about the future God has planned for you.

Make room for intimate conversations by practicing the art of listening - really listening. By doing so, you may discover new things about your spouse that you didn’t have time to explore before.

What a gift to talk freely again, reconnect as best friends, and rediscover the joy of simply being together!

It’s the ordinary routines that parents of young children often miss the most: sharing a hot cup of coffee in the morning, taking a leisurely walk in the evening, cooking a meal without rushing, or enjoying a spontaneous getaway.

These quiet routines are now available to you and should be enjoyed thoroughly. But be mindful not to fill every bit of free time with busyness. Allow room for rest, connection, and new experiences as a couple. Ask God how He wants to use this season to strengthen your relationship and renew your purpose. This is one of the best times to dive deep into the Word, extend your prayer time, and incorporate more worship.

Remember, some of the sweetest moments come from ordinary days shared in sweet fellowship with God and each other. Create a new calendar that lends to both of your personalities and preferences.

What a gift to slow down and discover new rhythms for the next chapter of your marriage!

With fewer demands pulling you in different directions, you have the opportunity to ask, “Lord, what do You have for our marriage in this next season?”

Remember, this isn’t the end of your most purposeful years, but rather, an invitation to discover new ways God can work through you as a couple.

As you seek His will, He might lead you to:

• Serve in your church or community together
• Mentor younger couples or join other empty nesters in Bible study
• Visit new places, even locally
• Pursue new hobbies or health goals

Take time to dream together and seek God’s direction for the years ahead. Your marriage has already gained wisdom, experience, and perseverance, so allow those lessons to become a blessing for others.

What a gift to enter the empty-nest years with more freedom, renewed vision, and the opportunity to let God use your marriage in ways you never imagined!

Let’s Pray: 
Heavenly Father, please help us manage this new season with joy and expectation. Help us create new memories through healthy conversations, peaceful routines, and exciting opportunities. Most of all, help us grow in faith, looking to You as our Marriage Counselor and Guide. We are deeply thankful that You brought us through the child-rearing years and are faithful to lead us into a bright and beautiful future together. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Application: Choose one new hobby or activity to try as a couple. Think outside the box and do something you’ve never done before. This might include archery, gardening, sculpting, writing, or traveling.

Challenge Questions:

• What is one meaningful conversation you and your spouse have been putting off, and how can you create space for it this week?
• How can you use this quieter season to reconnect with your spouse instead of letting the silence create distance?
• In what ways can you thank God for the parenting years while also embracing the new things He wants to do in your marriage?

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/KSChong

Jennifer Waddle is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where you can find her books and sign up for her weekly post, Discouragement Doesn’t Win. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on earth. 

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