Links to former News stories.
Let Go and Let God in Your
Relationships
I use to have such issues when it came to relationships.
Abandoned, abused and rejected children often have problems building trust and connecting with people due to fear.
One of the results of fear is isolation. I remember keeping people at a distance in my life. I was guarded with my own husband. I would only let them come but so far. I had very few friends. I had a high fence of protection around me to avoid further hurt and harm that I experienced as a child. I sought God to heal my broken and rejected heart. God did major surgery in my heart when it came to people. I literally had a change of heart. I was harsh and uncaring. I was emotionally bankrupt. I lacked compassion for others.
It is true, hurting people hurt others. I needed a heart transplant. In my pursuit of God my mind and heart was transformed. I received his love and his healing. My thought changed. Proverbs 3 talks about guarding your heart and mind, I became less judgmental. I learned to take the things that people said and did less personal. I realized we are all on different levels in life. I have, and am learning, to accept people where they are.
Here are a few things I learned in letting Go and Letting God in my relationships:
Believe me, God loves the people He created and He plans to teach you and me to do the same.
- People come into our lives for a period of time to deposit something and/or receive something. Giving is God’s way. Sometimes giving a kind word, a listening ear, understanding, sensible advice or a word of encouragement or receive love, forgiveness or just friendship.
- You must take risks. You must risk being hurt to find true happiness. Shutting others out prevents true and lasting relationships. Everyone does not mean you harm. Remember hurting people, hurt others.
- Boundaries. You must set boundaries as to what you allow and what is a deal breaker. “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." (Proverbs 4:23)
- Hold everything loosely. Trying to hold on to relationships that have run its full course can be detrimental to your esteem and peace. We must be willing to let go. When we divide we multiply. We go our separate ways and God is able to touch a greater number of people than when we are together.
- Identify the source of confusion and anger. Search your own heart before pointing a finger at anyone. Ask the Holy Spirit to shed a light on what is really going on. Many times anger, arguments, disagreements and the like comes from selfish motives, jealousy and evil desires according to the scriptures. See James 1-4, 1 Corinthians 3-1-4 and Psalms 23-24.
- Being a woman of a certain age, I have learned the importance of relationships. Letting Go and Letting God in relationships allows the fruit of the Spirit to develop and operate in our lives. The true sign of a Christian is the fruit we bear, i.e. love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, temperance, longsuffering, slow to anger, mercy. The greatest of these is love. (1 Cor 13.)
Let Go and Letting God in our relationships gives God free reign to work as He will. God uses everything. He uses hurts, failures, successes and everything in between.
Women are very relational but sometimes it can be a challange. Tell us about your successes or struggles.
