Don’t rush into this relationship

Patience is a difficult skill to practise when it comes to relationships. This is particularly so when you feel lonely, empty, and incomplete. When that happens, you can jump the gun and choose based on your limited perspective rather than the larger picture that would emerge if only you had sought more information and waited patiently. To keep you from making a mistake that can negatively impact the rest of your life, here are three important steps you should take when forming a relationship: 1) You must ask the right questions. Be curious, inquisitive, and hungry for all the puzzle pieces. Always, always, ask! 2) You must find the answer to those questions. Sift through the surface impressions of what you see and hear, and you’ll soon see a clearer picture emerging. This picture must harmonise with two things: a) your participation in this particular relationship; b) God’s will and purpose for your life. 3) You must act when the time is right and know you are acting on the best and most comprehensive information available. If it doesn’t work out, you can relax knowing that you did everything possible to make a wise decision. Statistically, about half of all marriages today end in divorce. But if you take these three steps, you could finish up in the right half. And even if the relationship fails, you can carry the wisdom gleaned from the last one into your next relationship. ‘He made…a woman, and…brought her to the man’ (Genesis 2:22 NKJV). God knows just what you need, so seek His guidance.

Prayer Point

Father, You know all my needs, all my hopes, and all my dreams. You know everything about me, and You know what’s best for me. Help me not to jump ahead of You, thinking I have all the answers when it comes to relationships. Give me the patience to rely on Your timing, and protect me from making rushed decisions because of my need for a companion. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Jakes, T. D., The T. D. Jakes Relationship Bible (New York: Atria, 2011), 616.