Topic: Relationships/Dating

Author: Keilah Tawney (Bradley H.S.)

 

Movies upon movies are filled with the perfect couples. The Prince (who happens to be perfect) always finds his true love, his Princess (who is always very beautiful). It is easy for me to watch these relationships and hope for my Prince to come. It is easy to hope that one day I will meet a person who I never disagree with, who always loves me completely, never disappoints me, and who I love with all my heart. However, I think my Prince must be lost because so far in my life I haven’t met a perfect person yet. This doesn’t mean that I am not going to find true love or that it doesn’t exist, it just shows how the meaning of true love has been twisted into a fairy tale fantasy.

 

True love isn’t about always being happy or always getting along. In reality, no relationship is going to be perfect and love is often mistaken for lust. Yet, I have seen true love in many of the marriages of the adults around me, and I find it in my Savior. There is hope even when you think you will never find your fairy tale ending. Ultimate love is found in Jesus, and I am working to depend on that love more and more in my life. You don’t need a guy or a girl’s love to make you complete. While it is not sinful to have that love it cannot compare to the love we need that comes from Christ. My true Prince is Christ, my heart is safe in the care of a heavenly father who loves me.

 

  • “On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.” -Psalm 62:7

 

God cares for us so much and his love is everlasting. While the “happily ever after” in a movie is attractive and sought after, real love comes from God. Real relationships with a guy or a girl should be built around the love of Christ. As each person pursues Christ, they can grow closer to one another. While I wait for my Prince Charming, I want to grow in the love of my Savior and depend on his strength & his plan. It can be easy to become dependent on another person and seek after the attention of a guy or girl. We can become too reliant on a boyfriend or girlfriend and quickly make them the most important thing in our life. We need to be careful to keep Christ at the center of our hearts because his love is eternal and he will always be with us.

 

  • “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” -Deuteronomy 31:6

 

God is always there to listen when you’re having a bad day, to love you when you feel uncared for, to direct you when you’re lost, and to comfort you when you’re lonely. He doesn’t give up on you and He wants to have a relationship with you.

 

  • “We love because he first loved us.” -1 John 4:19.  Love God first then see how he wants you to love others.

 

In the broken world we live in we won’t find a perfect person, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on love or loving another person. It means that you can’t expect anyone to be the perfect Prince. A relationship built on true love is one where you work through differences, forgive offenses, develop your character, and depend on Christ to direct you.

 

Text: © 2017 LCC- F.R.O.G. Youth Ministry. Used with author’s permission * Image: © Disney