Trusted Others
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:7-12 (NIV)
"Together" is not just a concept; it's a way of life that profoundly impacts us. We need each other to become the people God created us to be. It's in our togetherness that our lives are transformed, and the very life of God is exchanged among us as we give ourselves to one another. Our collective display of God's love is a powerful testimony to the world. In coming together, we bear the integrity of His image and the influence of His love.
To truly love others, we must first receive God's love for ourselves. Trusting in God's love allows us to cease demanding it from those around us. Instead of a cycle of giving and taking, our relationships become centered on what we offer and receive. Love is a force that breathes value and worth into one another, and this exchange takes place within our relationships.
These redemptive relationships serve as a framework through which love is expressed and experienced. Trust is nurtured over time as we encourage one another to step into our identity in Christ, walk in faith, and let God's love transform us. In these connections, grace mingles with growth, challenges are met with compassion, and authenticity intersects with availability.
It's through our relationships that His love flows, healing and renewing us. In our togetherness, we become a beacon of His love to the world, sharing the life-changing power of His love through our togetherness.
Take a moment to consider your connections with others and the part you play in working toward togetherness:
How is the condition of your heart expressing itself in your relationships? How would you describe the current condition of your relationships?
Who is a trusted other you need to give permission to speak into your life? How can they support you as you take steps to become the person God created you to be?
Who are you (or could be) breathing value and worth into? Is there someone else you feel God calling you to connect with more deeply?
During this experience, chances are good a few people came to mind. Maybe it was an individual who has supported, cared for, and showed up for you over the past year. Perhaps God also placed someone on your heart that needs you in their corner in the same way.
We encourage you to close out this section by reaching out to them and scheduling a time in the new year to meet, whether in person, online, or over the phone, to express your appreciation for their influence and love, or to let them know that you are there for them.