THE STORY BEHIND THE COVER

When I first began designing the cover for Marriage Is Worth the Fight, I was honestly pretty excited about my own draft. I had a vision and some experience with design, so I figured I could pull it off. But deep down, I knew the cover needed to carry weight. It had to grab attention while also capturing the depth of the message. So I reached out to a professional—someone whose work I respected.

That’s when I connected with Alexander von Ness, a highly regarded cover designer from Croatia. As it turns out, the Kauzlarich name is known in his region of Croatia. I don’t know much about my family history or that part of the world, but I do know that’s where my name comes from. There was something meaningful about that connection—two people from opposite sides of the world collaborating on a message rooted in purpose and redemption.

Alex sent me a number of designs, and honestly, it was hard to choose. Each concept had its strengths, and I wanted to make sure the final cover carried the right tone. Ironically, the design we ultimately went with was the one I liked the least at first. The couple looked a bit superhero-like to me, even a little monstrous. It almost felt like they were swimming underwater. Take a look to see what I mean:

The more I sat with it, however, the more it spoke to me.

I began to see the imagery as a metaphor. The couple on the cover isn’t just standing there—they’re being pulled at, almost torn by dark forces. And yet, they remain connected. Eyes locked. Hands joined. Unmoved. That’s what marriage feels like at times. There’s an enemy in this world who is intent on tearing us apart and unraveling the fabric of covenant love. Marriage is always under attack, because it represents something powerful: God’s design for intimacy, transformation, and purpose.

That’s why I love this cover now. It says more than I could have planned. It reminds me that we’re not just fighting for our marriages. We’re fighting together with our spouse against the real forces of darkness that want to isolate, discourage, and destroy.

My prayer is that this book will spark a movement—of men who rise to renew their covenant with God and their wives, but also who are personally transformed. I want to see men step into greatness, not just as husbands, but as warriors who push back against every scheme meant to divide them from their purpose and their family.

Please pray for me, for my wife, and for our family as we prepare to release this book. The official release date is July 15—it’s coming quickly. Pray that God would use this work for His glory, that it would land in the hands of those who need it most, and that it would plant seeds of renewal in marriages across the world.

— Josef