Today I’m happy to announce that Kathryn of downhomedamsel.com is sharing about faith’s role in the modern dating world.
Faith in the modern dating world
Dating in the modern world is no easy feat for many of us.
I’ve found myself feeling discouraged relationship after relationship and simply wondering why things just didn’t work out. I would occasionally vent to my mom and friends saying things like, “We didn’t communicate well, He wasn’t ambitious enough, He just wasn’t that into me.”
It possibly wasn’t my fate to be with that person or maybe it was the fact that faith didn’t play a huge role in our relationship.
When I reflect on how I used to viewed love and dating in college, I simply shake my head.
How did I go so long without sharing the deep feelings I had about God and the plan he has for me? After I grew in my faith and made God the center of my life, I promised myself my next relationship would be different and that I wouldn’t hide my deepest joys in life.
I’ve been with my current boyfriend for almost five months now and our relationship is both everything and nothing I ever expected. We met on an online dating app, which is common these days for millennials, and we just hit it off from there. But he’s everything I have ever wanted: kind, funny, ambitious, smart, generous, supportive and so much more.
The other day, we were joking over text message about how his roommate wants a girlfriend.
And I said, “Well maybe he should try Tinder like us. haha.”
And his response was, “God let me find my girlfriend. Not kidding.”
He knows God is the most important thing in my life, above all else. And that response gave me assurance that we are on the same page, faith-wise. But developing that deep faith together doesn’t happen overnight. He wants to go to church with me soon, and I want us to talk more about how we can strengthen our faith.
The number one thing I’ve learned about God and dating is don’t make your boyfriend your entire world or an idol. You may love him deeply, but no human relationship can compare to the peace and joy that the Holy Spirit brings. I realized that God will always be my first love because he will never leave me.
I stumbled upon these verses from my devotion a couple of days ago. They ring so true with my message:
“You shall have no other gods before me.” – Exodus 20:3
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” – Psalm 37:4
Here are some simple things you can do to incorporate faith in your relationship:
1. Pray together.
It can be at subtle as praying before dinner. There’s something so powerful about praying with another person and knowing that God is listening and always working.
2. Talk about the future you can’t control.
Moving to a new city for a new job or moving home to take care of family are some of the biggest deal breakers/problems in relationships. Some stick it out and do long distance, but will it work without faith?
It’s hard to have those conversations early on, even when you think it will never happen. It’s reassuring to know that God has your back and if it’s meant to be, you and your partner can face any obstacle together.
3. Remember your relationship is no coincidence.
Meeting my boyfriend was not a coincidence. We met in the strangest way, yet I realized we probably would have not met otherwise since we have different interests. There is nothing keeping me here in my current town other than my job. So why else am I here? We often acknowledge that God put us together for a reason at certain place and time in our lives.
4. Make big life decisions with faith.
Always consult God before making a big life decision, especially with your partner.
Here’s an excerpt from Everyday Faith devotional provided by Faithbox, “Whenever we plan to embark upon a new journey or adventure in our lives, it’s important that we take a moment to pray and seek God’s will first—because he always has our best interests in mind.”
God will guide us in the right direction. So one way to know you are making the right decision with someone else is praying to God for guidance through a new journey.
My names Kathryn and I’m a lifestyle blogger in my 20s and am exploring food, fashion and ways to stay balanced one day at a time. I’m a Florida girl at heart but am currently working as a digital producer at a TV station in Mississippi. I’m a fan of God, old things, coffee, delicious-looking food and fresh-grown herbs from my patio.
Blog: http://www.downhomedamsel.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/downhomedamsel/
