Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Relationships are sticky things

If you are human, you have probably experienced the desire to dip into a fairy tale once or twice. You want to live happily ever after with your Prince Charming or your Sleeping Beauty....but life always seems to throw in the poisoned apples, the evil step-sisters, or even a Maleficent or two. You were always told that "good things come to those who wait", but who in the world enjoys waiting!? You figure that you're practically a senior citizen by now and you better get those church bells ringing soon or else you'll be too ripe for the picking. And even if you're not concerned about being single at your age, what about in five years?... in ten? Will you be worried then?

There are so many things throughout the world that tell you to go out and find love, and if you can't find it, trick yourself and settle for less. I know that I listen to the lies all the time, but when you realize just how dangerous those lies are, please reconsider how you handle your heart.

When you're dealing with relationships, there's so much more to think about than "that person is so attractive" or "he/she makes my heart flutter" [mind you, neither of those are bad things when they are appropriate]. The Lord of the heavens and earth designed us as relational people. We crave and desire to be loved, because that is exactly why we were created. God fashioned us out of the dirt just so He could love us. Our life goal is to enjoy the Lord forever =]. We try to fill that Jesus-shaped hole in our heart with everything else but Him, and we're so quick to try and "complete ourselves". When another person says "i love you" and that they want to spend the rest of their life with you, we jump on the opportunity like ants on a picnic sandwich. But that special person who's saying these things to you, wasn't the first. Since the beginning of time God has called to you with His perfect love, inviting you into His perfection forever.

So let me just ask, what makes the guy/girl that you're trying to fill your heart with better? Is it that they just understand you.... they make you feel loved.... they make you special things to show how much they care.....or maybe it's their patience with you. Maybe it's that no matter how many times you've hurt them, they say that they forgive you and hug you really tight...............gosh, i must agree with you, they sound pretty great, but I know someone who has done all of that and so so so much more!

Now, I know it's corny to say "Jesus loves you" or to say "Jesus is better", but those statements are true. All of those attributes that you are attracted to in that special someone are mere glimpses of God's perfection. I'm not saying that the person you're filling your heart with is bad, but they're just not meant for that occupation. They're supposed to be a tangible example of God's love....they're not supposed to replace it. Those things that they do out of their love for you pail in comparison to what the Lord has done. Jesus Christ died on that Cross because He couldn't bear the idea of not spending eternity with you. He created the world for you to enjoy! Every sunset that you've watched with your girlfriend/boyfriend God made it for you! He will ALWAYS forgive. He is ALWAYS patient, and He is more beautiful than anyone, anything, or any place, period.

Like the title says, relationships are sticky things, but when God is in your heart, and you've given Him control, the other relationships in your life don't seem so important. They become much less sticky, because you've let God come in and clean up the mess. The fairy tale ending is waiting for you, and Prince Charming has saved you not only from an evil serpent, but from a fiery pit of eternal suffering!!!!!!! Wow! =]

Examine your heart and see what you're trying to fill it with. Are you putting a created person in the place meant for the Creator? I can promise you that if you allow Jesus to enter into His puzzle piece spot, you will never, ever, ever, ever regret it. He will never let you down. He will never break your heart, because He created love, exudes love and is love.