Many of us experience problems with relationships, whether romantic or simply friendly. Perhaps you’ve been hurt before; perhaps people in your life have left you or abused you. Or perhaps you just feel as though relationships take far too much effort to be worth it. Whatever the reason, relationship problems are very common, and the Bible has a lot to say on this topic.
The Bible teaches that we were created to be in relationships with others. We are not meant to handle life on our own – we are to come alongside one another and enjoy companionship. So, what do we do when relationships get messy? How to we handle the struggles we face when trying to build a friendship or romantic relationship? What exactly does the Bible say about this topic? Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp do a great job tackling these questions and more in their book, Relationships: A Mess Worth Making.
This book begins by explaining why it is worth it to even seek relationships with others. Relationships never live up to our expectations anyway, right? Diving straight to the heart, these writers gently encourage their readers to begin viewing relationships through the lens of the Bible, showing how God plans to use even the hardships and hurts of a relationship for His glory and our good. This book powerfully addresses issues such as what is your agenda in a relationship, who are you worshiping, how do you communicate with others in a way that pleases the Lord, and other common relationship obstacles. Reminding its readers to find their identity in Christ and commit to handling relationships His way, this book is a helpful resource for anyone struggling in this area.
Very recently, one of our current residents mentioned that she was working through this book in counseling. When I asked her how it was going, she stated, “I hate it. But I hate it because I really need it. It’s good.” God was using this book in the life of this young lady to show her areas in which she needed to grow, and although it hurt, she was willing to recognize that she was in need of some serious change. This book has helped many of our residents here, and we would recommend that it be added to your library as well! To purchase this great resource, click here!
