As anyone who is in a committed relationship will tell you, love is most certainly not enough when it comes to finding happiness in a partnership. Trust, communication, respect, and reciprocal friendship are important components in any relationship and the death of any one of these essential ingredients can often spell disaster for the relationship as a whole. But the fact remains that in the course of our union we will all be faced with an inevitable relationship test that can have one of several outcomes – the ending of the relationship, the continuing of the relationship that is now forever damaged by the event, or the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship – one that signifies a much stronger union and the promise of a happy future.

One such relationship test is one in which the trust of either or both partners is tested in the face of infidelity. There are many reasons that infidelity occurs in a relationship but it is – without fail – always indicative of a much larger problem in the relationship. In most cases, the partner who discovers the infidelity will immediately end the relationship or perhaps continue in the relationship because there are children involved or financial reasons that make the continuance of the union a practical decision. In either case, the couple has lost the opportunity to emerge from the experience stronger and much more committed to a future in which they both feel a part. If both parties are invested in the continuing of the relationship, professional counseling can provide a chance to get to know each other again and rebuild a solid foundation of trust. As incredible as it may sound, this relationship test can be one – that if passed – can deliver the couple to new heights of love and partnership.

Many a couple has experienced a relationship test in which finances are the star. Money is one of the prime factors over which couples argue and even separate. This often comes from a base history of handling money differently – based upon the ways in which we were all taught to think about finances from our parents. When two people come together with very different financial compasses, they are often left feeling frustrated and disrespected by each other. There is financial counseling available that works with couples of this very kind. Such counseling allows couples to move past their preconceived ideas about money and reformulate a shared goal and plan for finances in their relationship. If statistics are correct, then 50% of couples who face this financial relationship test have failed – losing each other to their different feelings about money. But if you approach this situation as a challenge and seek resources that can help you redefine your relationship in this capacity, you can move on to a respectful relationship with shared values.

Every couple will face a relationship test in their lifetime; such is the inevitability of love. But if you love and respect each other enough, you can move through the challenge and emerge into a place of light, love, and happiness.