broken

Amongst all the books/articles on Christian relationships, I haven't found a whole heap out there talking in much detail about being a Christian dealing with a 'dating' relationship break up (man I hate the word 'dating'…I especially don't think it applies to a long term relationship - dating seems to me to be the sort of thing you do once or twice as you get to know someone. But anyway, I digress). But this one came in from Desiring God today and it's gold.

It's not you it's God - nine lessons for breakups

I guess there isn't heaps written about it because, as the author of the article says, “Relationships and love may be celebrated more in the church than anywhere else because we (rightly) love marriage so much. Unfortunately, these same convictions often make breakups an uncomfortable conversation — at best embarrassing and at worst scandalous or humiliating.” There's an awful lot more written about how to be as a single person or how to be as a married person. Or how to prepare to be a married person. Articles on dating don't talk about what happens when it all goes sour. Broken relationships are referred to in more general terms as suffering. But the thing I appreciated about the article is how honest it is about how break ups feel, and how complicated they are.

Break ups suck, plain and simple. But they happen. And there is a lot of comfort to be had if you can wade through the sadness and keep your eyes fixed on God. I'm just hanging out for heaven - no dating, no marriage, no break ups, no divorce, but perfect fulfilment and joy for all God's children.