Q: What can I do about a toxic relationship?
A: At times it’s easy for us to forget how much God loves us and how much value we have in Him. When we lose sight of the greatness God has put on the inside of us, we can begin to make decisions based on a poor self-image. Those decisions cause many Christians to end up in bad relationships, having lost focus on protecting the special gifts God placed on the inside of them.
As a believer you are to look to God, desiring to please Him. The standards of someone who has taken their eyes off Jesus will be different. The problem with trying to please people who aren’t serving God is you will eventually violate your conscience and become unhappy. The good news is that God definitely has better relationships available for you if you will trust Him!
We encourage you, if you find yourself in an unhealthy relationship, please don’t stay there. You can get help for yourself and your friend by allowing your pastor or some other godly adult to counsel you. God will help you move from a destructive relationship into a wholesome, healthy one!
We are standing with you as you seek God in your relationships. We encourage you to spend time thinking and praying over these Scriptures below as they relate to your friendships and your relationship with God.
Please meditate on these scriptures:
“Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Psalm 37:4-5)
“I am a friend to anyone who fears you—anyone who obeys your commandments.” (Psalm 119:63)
“Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:3-6)
"There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 17:17)
“A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)
“Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.” (Proverbs 27:6)
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” (Proverbs 27:17)
“If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.” (James 4:4)