In this episode of Operation: Thriving Marriage, we explore what it truly means to build emotional intimacy in marriage. When you think of intimacy, what comes to mind? Many couples confuse intimacy with romance or sex, but they are not the same. Romance and intimacy feed each other, but intimacy goes much deeper. When we mistake sex for intimacy or make it the goal, we miss out on the true connection God designed for marriage. This misunderstanding often leads to distance, disconnection, and even infidelity—one of the top reasons marriages fail.   True intimacy is about deeply knowing and being known by your spouse. Dictionaries use words like “close,” “personal,” “private,” and “deep” to define intimacy. Biblically, it’s expressed in Genesis 2, where Adam and Eve were “naked and not ashamed”—fully seen, fully known, and unafraid. This level of closeness doesn’t happen by accident. It takes intentional effort: having meaningful conversations that go beyond work or kids, spending time together without distractions, forgiving each other, having fun, and even small, non-sexual touches that foster connection. Sex is important too, but in Scripture it’s tied to knowing your spouse deeply, not just a physical act.   God designed marriage to be your closest human relationship. Genesis 2 shows His intent for unity: “A man leaves his father and mother and unites with his wife, and they become a new family… The man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.” Building emotional intimacy means embracing vulnerability, knowing your spouse deeply, and living out God’s vision for a thriving marriage.