More Than Just Relationships

Okay, let’s talk about relationships for a second. Now, I’m not here to play matchmaker—even though I did play the matchmaker in Mulan back in middle school (true story, you can ask my mom). But this isn’t about who you should date or how to make every relationship work. It’s more about some thoughts I’ve been having on relationships in general—like, why we even want them in the first place.

The truth is, we were made for relationships. That’s why we crave connection, whether it’s to people, to communities, or even to random things we love. But above all, we were made to be in a relationship with God (Genesis 2:18).

Here’s the thing—God didn’t just make relationships; He is a relationship. God exists as Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.  It’s like the ultimate squad, except they’ve existed together for all of eternity (John 17:1-5). They serve, love, and glorify each other. And it’s not a surface-level, Instagram-worthy relationship; it’s real, sacrificial love.

Our God has always been relational, even before the creation of the world. He created us out of relationship for relationship—not the kind that just looks good on the outside, but one that is sacrificial. And something I’ve learned about love? It’s sacrificial because God is sacrificial (Ephesians 5:2, John 15:13).

Here’s something that hit me: We were made in the image of God, and God is a relationship. So, when we crave those healthy, supportive, meaningful connections, it’s because that’s literally what we’re created for. It’s like a built-in thing we have because we weren’t just made to live in community—we were made because of it.

But here’s where we mess up. We try to fill that need with people, expecting them to complete us. That’s why we get disappointed in our relationships sometimes. We’re putting our hope in imperfect people, and spoiler alert: Only God can fill that space. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that God put eternity in our hearts, which means only an eternal God can satisfy that longing.

Think about it: What are you putting your hope in? Who’s at the center of your life? If you put God in the center of your relationships, you’ll be fulfilled. And that fullness allows you to love others without expecting them to be your everything. But if you put people at the center, you’re going to end up disappointed—because no one can fill that role perfectly.

When God is where He should be—in the center of your life—your relationships with others will just naturally work better. Not perfect, but healthier. 

I am a firm believer that before you jump into any relationship—whether it’s dating or even just friendships—you’ve gotta start with your relationship with God. Think about it: No one knows you better than the One who created you (Psalm 139).

But let’s be real: I’m not saying that as soon as you’re tight with God, boom, your perfect person shows up. It doesn’t work like that. What I’m saying is that when your life is centered on God, it’s going to influence how you do relationships—with friends, family, and even potential partners.

So yeah, relationships are messy and complicated, but they don’t have to be. It starts with getting your heart right with God. Once He’s at the center, everything else—friendships, dating, whatever—starts to make a lot more sense.

Wherever you are with your relationships right now, take a step back and ask yourself: Who’s filling your heart? If it’s anyone other than God, maybe it’s time to refocus. Because when God is the source of your love, that love overflows into everything else.

ALL THE BEST,