Recently, I have had many opportunities to pray about relationships. Since moving to South Korea to teach English for a year, I’ve had to face the challenges of maintaining consistent contact with those I love back home, making new friendships here, and even addressing relationships in a larger context, including the shaky relations between North and South Korea.
Often I am tempted to be overwhelmed by the dramatic highs and lows of my relationships with others, whether romantic or friendly, or even my interactions with co-workers or students. It can seem really frightening when a friend is angry with me or students are rebellious, or there are sudden arguments with loved ones. However, in all of my prayers regarding relationships, I have been consistently pointed away from looking to others for a sense of peace, and instead have been led to learn more about my relationship with God to find happiness and purpose.
I really learned how to rely on God in this way after I broke up with my first boyfriend in high school seven years ago. For a few months I hopelessly prayed for a new relationship but was met only with quickly deteriorating self-confidence and happiness. I knew it was time to address this situation prayerfully, as it had become obvious that another person could not complete me or validate my worth. It was time to rely on God for all of my love, confidence, and direction. Gradually, my prayers shifted from asking for specific relationships with others to focusing on my relationship with God.
