Two Is Better Than One

"But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." Psalm 86:15

 

Dear "Insert Your Name Here,"

I was once in your position just a few months ago. I was the girl constantly daydreaming of the day I would be in a relationship and actually enjoy the time I was given to spend with someone. I had the eagerness to find someone who would understand me, and I know how difficult that can be. While I have your attention for these next few minutes, I want to go ahead and answer your question. Yes, this post is about the amazing relationship I have found myself in, but it isn't the relationship you see pictures and comments posted about on Facebook. It's the relationship that has prepared me for the place of my life that I am in now, and it is the relationship that has molded me into the person that I have become. Who is this special person you may ask? I think you know him, but are you in a relationship with him as well? His name is Jesus. 

I honestly never put much time and attention into thinking about my relationship with Jesus until I found myself in a relationship with a pretty amazing guy a few months ago. I began comparing my relationship with my boyfriend to the relationship I have with Jesus, and I instantly began thanking Jesus for the way He loves me. His love is that kind of love you hope that special someone has for you one day. What kind of love is it? Let me explain.

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

Let me repeat that ending phrase, "Love covers over a multitude of sins." Wow, I love that because it tells us how even though we sin, God still chooses to love us. Regardless of the mishaps that may happen in life, God still loves us when we make a mistake. That was always really hard for me to understand. I once believed that if I could strive for perfection, then no one would find a reason not to love me. How terrible does that sound? For those of you who know me, you know I have been such a perfectionist all of my life. It has held me back most of my life and kept me from trying new things and gracefully accepting defeat. Over this last year, I have learned that Jesus loves me regardless of my achievements or failures. As my beginning verse states, he is "compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." How could you not fall in love with a man like that?

Through my relationship with Jesus, I have learned how any relationship takes time, commitment, patience, forgiveness, and love, but not just any love. It takes the kind of love Jesus has for us. The love you have for yourself. The love that can help you laugh at yourself when you may stumble and catch yourself before you fall. It's the love that even when you do make a mistake, you can admit your imperfections and love yourself anyway. It is that love that we hope someone will have for us one day because we feel that love from Jesus.

Let me share a short but funny story. During my Freshman year of college, my Mom and I had lunch in which she asked me what I was hoping to find in someone. I listed off quite a few characteristics in which my Mom looked at me and said, "Alison, Jesus is already taken." I responded with, "Well I guess I will just have to become a Nun and marry Jesus." This is a conversation my Mom and I still look back on and laugh over because I like to think I have come a long way since then. I may not be marrying Jesus, but I hope to marry someone who not only encourages my relationship with Jesus but is a part of it as well.

For those of you out there who are questioning God's timing or the existence of any good man (or woman) out there, know that there is someone who is dying to be in a relationship with you. He wants to spend time with you, love on you, talk to you, but more importantly be there for you. Ultimately those are some of the main things we look for in a relationship, and it took me a long time to realize that I have been dating Jesus all this time. I love the quality time I get to spend with Him, whether it is worshiping in the car, diving into His word at Starbucks or simply looking at the world around me and seeing the art He has created for us all.

Whatever your relationship status may be, know that you have the opportunity to be in a relationship with a man who actually IS perfect. He is beautiful in every way, and His love is hard to find elsewhere. Find someone who encourages you to spend time with Jesus, but in the end find someone who wants to spend time with both you and Jesus.

With Love & Laughter,
Alison