Finding Fulfillment Separate from Your Relationship Status
(Excerpt from “Making a Clean Break: a 21 day journey to a fulfilling single life” )
If you've been around Christian culture much, you may have heard someone say, "Everyone has a God-shaped hole in their heart." Normally there is a follow-up explanation about how we as humans often try to fill up this lack with countless pieces that never fit the puzzle.
This may resonate with you today. You may have been striving to find fulfillment in educational or career achievement, in the party scene, or in sculpting a perfect image. None of that will satisfy you.
There are married people all over the world who are confused because they thought that saying "I Do" would be the answer to their search for meaning.
There is a story in the Gospel of John, chapter 4 where Jesus has a pivotal conversation with a woman who has been jumping from one relationship to another. In fact, she has five ex-husbands, and is currently living with her boyfriend. Jesus met her in the outskirts of the town, at the well where she had come to get water, and He uses metaphorical language to let her know that her need was legitimate, but that she had been going to the wrong source.
“Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,
but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst.
Indeed, the water I give them will become in them
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
John 4:13
Her "thirst" for relationship (belonging, connection, being known) was legitimate, but the ultimate source of refreshing that would give her life is found in Jesus Christ.
You may relate to her today. You may be a divorcee many times over, or an infamous chain-dater. You may feel desperate for a special someone to notice you, choose you, or admire you. I want you to know that there is a place of connection with your Creator and Saviour that will satisfy you in a way that no human relationship can.
You can come to Christ just as you are. Don't let guilt or regret keep you from that source of Living Water. Christ loves you so much that He was willing to DIE for you. He doesn't want anything to come between you. Scripture says that it is like Jesus is standing outside your front door, knocking, wondering if He can join you for a mealtime. A time of friendship, joy, and connection. You may not consider yourself a Jesus-follower, or you may have walked closely with Him. Either way, there is a place of greater belonging and connection for you today.
Just like any relationship, it takes intentionality to build that connection. God is Spirit, so it takes new skills to be able to connect to Him with your spirit. The Scriptures are an incredible guide to help us know and understand more. It takes time to begin to know God, and it is worth every minute. It is this connection that will ultimately sustain you and bring deepest satisfaction to you.
Excerpt from “Making a Clean Break: a 21 day journey to a fulfilling single life”
This free PDF resource will be available soon here on our website. (and we can’t wait to get it into your hands!) In it you will find lessons about overcoming disappointments and painful memories, finding peace and offering forgiveness, discovering purpose and making sure you never settle.
If you know someone that is struggling to bounce back from a dating break-up, be sure to send this their way!
Continue reading…
Despite the strong cultural pull in the direction of “greater sexual choice,” it’s increasingly clear that this generation is not actually any happier with how things are going. Maybe there is more to “safe sex” or even “good sex” than merely two consenting adults.