Is marriage still worth it today, or has commitment lost its value? In this episode of Penned in Ink, we take a direct and honest look at one of the biggest questions people are asking right now: Should you still get married? Drawing from over 30 years of marriage, our lived experience, and Melissa’s work as a professional counselor, we talk honestly about why so many people hesitate to commit and what marriage actually offers when it is built intentionally.

We don’t romanticize marriage, and we don’t dismiss its challenges. Instead, we explore the real emotional, social, financial, and long-term realities of commitment. From fear of losing independence to anxiety about divorce, from financial pressure to cultural skepticism, we unpack the doubts we hear every day and explain why a strong marriage can still be a powerful framework for building a meaningful life together.

This episode isn’t about convincing everyone to get married. It’s about helping you think clearly, ask better questions, and understand what commitment can look like when it’s healthy, mutual, and intentional.

💬 In this episode, we discuss:

• Why commitment and marriage feel riskier today than they did in the past
• The most common doubts we hear about marriage, including fear of divorce and loss of independence
• The difference between being married and simply living together
• Emotional benefits of long-term commitment and having a true partner
• Social and health impacts of marriage, especially for men
• Financial realities of marriage, including stability, shared goals, and long-term wealth
• Why marriage is not only for religious people
• The difference between staying married and building a strong marriage
• How healthy marriages model stability for future generations
• Why marriage can be a force multiplier when it’s built the right way

🎧 Listen if you are…

• Questioning whether marriage is still worth it
• Feeling hesitant about long-term commitment
• Curious about the real benefits and challenges of marriage
• Looking for honest, experience-based perspectives on relationships
• Wanting to build something that lasts rather than settling

Chapters

00:00 – Episode teaser

00:29 – Welcome and introduction

01:29 – Modern doubts about marriage

01:50 – Doubt 1: Fear of losing your independence

03:09 – Doubt 2: It’s just a piece of paper

03:25 – Doubt 3: Fear of divorce

04:49 – Doubt 4: Marriage is only for the religious

05:28 – The case for marriage

06:22 – Reason 1: Emotional benefits of marriage

07:54 – Reason 2: Social benefits of marriage

11:02 – Reason 3: Financial benefits of marriage

16:17 – Reason 4: Someone to grow old with

18:14 – Reason 5: Optimal structure to raise children

22:17 – Inked Moments: When Melissa questioned commitment

27:48 – Commitment beyond marriage

34:20 – Pen to Paper: How to weigh the benefits of marriage

38:29 – Closing thoughts