I was having coffee with a friend just recently. She was looking for some answers to
relationship issues she is having. So I was thinking of what I could say to encourage her. I am not in the least bit an expert on this. Maybe I could suggest one of those self help books. I have read my fair share of them, mostly christian ones. You know, the ones that have a seven step process to wedded bliss and the ones that tell you ___ + ___ = the perfect life (you can fill in the blanks). The formula ones. Or the ones that give you a list of rules to follow and then everything will turn out alright. To be honest, I have met people who are quite good at following rules, lists and formulas and some of them are jerks. And those books usually just frustrate me more than anything. I finish the book determined to "get it right this time" and then mess up big time soon after and I am back to square one. And on top of that, I eventually forget what I have read and must continually relearn things. Maybe a marriage seminar or retreat? I come away from them so encouraged, but to tell you the truth, as soon as I get home and into the schedule, I slip right back into former ways. Plus, they are really expensive! Maybe I could tell her that she needs to go to church more, listen to hymn cds in the car and find more Christian friends who also listen to hymn cds in the car . . . no, not that either because I don't even listen to hymn cds in the car. So where can she find answers? Are there any answers or are we all just swirling around in confusion only achieving success by pure luck?
The only thing I could come up with worth telling her about is the only thing that has ever brought any
transformation in my life . . . that being my relationship with the living God and Creator of all things including me (a.k.a Jesus Christ). The one who came to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free (Isa. 61:1). I'm not talking about going to church and reading the Bible. That would be like saying I'm best buds with Abe Lincoln because I visited his house and read his biography. No, I'm talking about an actual day-to-day relationship with Jesus Christ. He talks to me, I talk to him. Sounds crazy, I know. But when he speaks truth into my life, all of the sudden a light goes on and I am forever set free from that struggle.
I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life. ~Jesus (John 8:12 NLT)
I don't know of anyone else who can do that, so just maybe the answers aren't in a formula or in a set of rules or "religion" and God actually created us to be relational to have our needs met by closeness with him. Just maybe this Jesus is a whole lot bigger than we think and just maybe we can depend him to get us through life.
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