Commit to the Relationship (Part Three)

And Jonathan had David reaffirm his oath out of love for him, because he loved him as he loved himself. 2 Samuel 20:17

For a relationship to succeed, both parties must be totally committed to it. Today let’s look at some more of the reasons why we may be afraid to commit.

1) Consider whether you have real feelings for your partner or whether you are biding your time until somebody better comes along. In other words, be honest with yourself because your happiness depends on it.

2) Talk about your specific fears with your partner. One writer offers these: ‘I’m afraid you will try to change me’; ‘I’ll feel weak if you don’t submit to me’; ‘If the marriage fails, you may take my money and leave me impoverished’; ‘You may restrict too much of my time with my friends; ‘You may require too much of my attention.’ You must honestly share your feelings and request feedback to your concerns.

3) Try a thirty-day interval of ‘no contact’ with your romantic interest and find out how life would feel without him or her. Some non-committed relationships are merely for convenience, so assess your feelings apart from the inconvenience you will endure. Convenience is a weak foundation for a marriage.

4) Re-examine your expectations. Don’t expect your partner to fulfill every facet of your life. For example, if you have a need for high adventure that’s manifested in bungee jumping, find friends to enjoy it with, and be happy that your partner is faithful, loving, and laughs a lot.

And one more thought: there is an emptiness within each of us that only God can fill. And when He does, we require less from our partner and learn how to become a better partner.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to be honest in my relationships and not be afraid to talk about things. In Jesus’ Name, Amen