It’s hard to find good Christian dating advice, but let me try to give some anyway. I am sure most of us, at one point or another, have longed for someone to share this life with. A thirst for relationship is something God has built into our souls. In John 7:37-38, Jesus addresses this longing: “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
I have heard this longing being expressed as an emptiness that only God can fill. This emptiness is our soul’s longing for our Maker. We can choose to fulfill it in different ways, and, may I dare say, those ways are idols: things that take the place of our relationship with God. Many of us don’t like to think we have idols in our lives. We think that idols are obvious sins that we can clearly see. However, less obvious, fun and good things (such as TV, food, video games, sports, school, and, of course, the opposite sex) can become idols in our lives. They are not sins, but they become sins if they become the focus of our lives.
Let’s focus on the opposite sex idol. Many of us tend to misinterpret our soul’s longing for our Maker and go on a search for a soul mate. I can honestly say that I have caught myself, many times, putting my longing for a mate above God. I have many friends who have struggled with the same. I hate to bring disappointment; there is no man or woman that can satisfy our soul’s desire for perfect love. Men and women in our lives will surely disappoint us. Putting those high expectations on another human being is not only burdensome, but hurtful to both people in a relationship. We are not perfect and human relationships are not all bliss. We stumble and let each other down many times. We even struggle with forgiveness and love for each other. The only One who has not stumbled in sin is Jesus Christ, and He is able and willing to heal and satisfy our hearts. What an amazing grace!
He loves you so much. Come close to Him and He will satisfy you (Psalm 37:4). Whether single or dating, or just starting a relationship, let Him lead you, one step at a time. In any of your friendship or dating decisions, develop your relationship with God, first. Learn to trust in His promises. One promise is that if you have surrendered your life to Him, you will be in step with Him (Romans 8:28). Do not fret whether you have surrendered everything because His Holy Spirit will lead you steps at a time. You do not have to control the path of your relationships. Here’s my Christian dating advice – Surrender, walk with God, and take the steps you are led to take.
