19 min
Is God Leading You Into a Relationship? Heart & Soul
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- Relationships
[Lead In]
Martin Zerrudo: So let's set the stage. You like them. They like you. You're both members of the Church Of Christ and are of age to start the courting process. What do you do? Are things moving too fast? Too slow? Do things feel easy? And is the relationship progressing naturally? Or does it feel a little forced? What do your friends think? What does your family think? Is God leading you into a relationship? Or is He trying to show you some red flags?
Let's have a Heart & Soul conversation.
[Show open]
Martin: Hello, everyone, hope we're finding you well, and that you and your family continue to be safe and healthy at this time. Today, we'll be talking about whether God is leading you into a relationship or if you're seeing something that maybe isn't there. A lot of our listeners in the past have reached out and asked us to talk about the one. And we definitely have, but today we'll be focusing more on being aware of whether or not they aren't the one. Joining us today is Brother Donald Pinnock, a minister of the gospel in the Church Of Christ. Hi, Brother Donald, how are you today?
Brother Donald Pinnock: Not too bad, Brother Martin. And thank you for having me on the program.
Martin: We always love having you. So we went online and found a couple things people point to as red flags for when you may be forcing a relationship with someone. And here they are. The first one is you talk about them like they're already your boyfriend or girlfriend, even though you aren't. Number two, you bend over backwards for them and they never reciprocate. Number three, you defend your relationship to your friends who express concerns. Number four, you make up excuses for why they never call you or text you back right away. And lastly, you tell yourself that they're going to want a relationship eventually, and that they will change even though they show no signs of it. So Brother Donald, why are so many youth today finding themselves in this predicament where they may be forcing a relationship that isn't there?
Brother Donald: Well, Brother Martin, there's so many reasons. For example, there are those who, due to peer pressure, they feel compelled to have a relationship, whether it be an actual one, or, as you mentioned an imagined one, since most of their friends already have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Others may really want to have a meaningful relationship with someone. However, they're just too fearful of approaching that individual. Of course, they're afraid of rejection. Thus, they imagine or just assume that the other person has the same feelings for them. And they leave it at that. On the part of the females or as we call sisters in the Church, they may feel attracted to a brother, but in fear of being labeled as too forthcoming or just too aggressive, they resort to telling themselves that the individual they have a crush on has the same feelings or sentiment for them. In order to avoid creating such a scenario, however, it is very important that members of the Church keep in mind the following tenet or teaching of the Bible. And we can read the following in Proverbs 19:14:
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
[Proverbs 19:14 New International Version]
Church Of Christ members then are taught to ask God for everything that they need, including when it comes to a suitable or prudent wife, and in fact, husband for that matter.
[Lead In]
Martin Zerrudo: So let's set the stage. You like them. They like you. You're both members of the Church Of Christ and are of age to start the courting process. What do you do? Are things moving too fast? Too slow? Do things feel easy? And is the relationship progressing naturally? Or does it feel a little forced? What do your friends think? What does your family think? Is God leading you into a relationship? Or is He trying to show you some red flags?
Let's have a Heart & Soul conversation.
[Show open]
Martin: Hello, everyone, hope we're finding you well, and that you and your family continue to be safe and healthy at this time. Today, we'll be talking about whether God is leading you into a relationship or if you're seeing something that maybe isn't there. A lot of our listeners in the past have reached out and asked us to talk about the one. And we definitely have, but today we'll be focusing more on being aware of whether or not they aren't the one. Joining us today is Brother Donald Pinnock, a minister of the gospel in the Church Of Christ. Hi, Brother Donald, how are you today?
Brother Donald Pinnock: Not too bad, Brother Martin. And thank you for having me on the program.
Martin: We always love having you. So we went online and found a couple things people point to as red flags for when you may be forcing a relationship with someone. And here they are. The first one is you talk about them like they're already your boyfriend or girlfriend, even though you aren't. Number two, you bend over backwards for them and they never reciprocate. Number three, you defend your relationship to your friends who express concerns. Number four, you make up excuses for why they never call you or text you back right away. And lastly, you tell yourself that they're going to want a relationship eventually, and that they will change even though they show no signs of it. So Brother Donald, why are so many youth today finding themselves in this predicament where they may be forcing a relationship that isn't there?
Brother Donald: Well, Brother Martin, there's so many reasons. For example, there are those who, due to peer pressure, they feel compelled to have a relationship, whether it be an actual one, or, as you mentioned an imagined one, since most of their friends already have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Others may really want to have a meaningful relationship with someone. However, they're just too fearful of approaching that individual. Of course, they're afraid of rejection. Thus, they imagine or just assume that the other person has the same feelings for them. And they leave it at that. On the part of the females or as we call sisters in the Church, they may feel attracted to a brother, but in fear of being labeled as too forthcoming or just too aggressive, they resort to telling themselves that the individual they have a crush on has the same feelings or sentiment for them. In order to avoid creating such a scenario, however, it is very important that members of the Church keep in mind the following tenet or teaching of the Bible. And we can read the following in Proverbs 19:14:
Houses and wealth are inherited from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
[Proverbs 19:14 New International Version]
Church Of Christ members then are taught to ask God for everything that they need, including when it comes to a suitable or prudent wife, and in fact, husband for that matter.
19 min