In life, we often seek fulfillment, typically through our relationships with others. But what happens when those relationships turn harmful or destructive?
As Christians, often a shift in our focus coincides with destructive relationships. Matthew 6:33 calls Christians to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” With destructive relationships, we find ourselves re-prioritizing our focus; God is often placed on the back burner while we put the harmful relationship at the forefront of our lives.
The more the harmful relationship is prioritized, the farther away we drift from God.
So what do you do when you realize your relationship is destructive? More so, how do you make the step to leave a destructive relationship?
God is the answer.
If we refocus and reprioritize our relationship with God, He will give you the strength and clarity to walk away – He will remind you that you deserve something greater than destruction and negativity. He will give you hope.
The first step in leaving any bad relationship is acknowledging that there is a problem. Once you accept there is a problem, you have to surround yourself with positivity, and relationships that reinforce the example of a healthy relationship.
The more you experience a healthy relationship, the more you will desire the healthy and distance yourself from the unhealthy and destructiveness.
But after finally leaving those destructive relationships, you have to deal with the after shocks – you have to accept that the baggage of being in a harmful relationship will be with you for the rest of your life.
This baggage will sometimes be just that: heavy and a burden – but once you accept and learn how to manage your baggage, the burden will be lessened.
You must be able to handle the emotions that will appear almost completely randomly, and will sometimes be overwhelming. But learning how to cope with these emotions will be the best battle you will ever overcome.
In the end, hope rises, and God overcomes.
