Dating can be hard, and break-ups can be even harder. When we find ourselves caught in the middle of the wilderness after a big break-up, where do we turn? Often, there are ten thousand thoughts running through our minds.
Should I call her?
Should I not call her?
Who is she with?
What is she doing?
What if I run into her?
We consult our friends and other secular authorities to find answers to these crucial questions. We want answers, yet what we should be seeking is the truth. It sort of reminds me of the exchange between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson in the movie A Few Good Men. Nicholson is on the witness stand and Cruise is baiting him incessantly. Cruise emphatically says, "I want the truth!" Nicholson replies, "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"
The question is, "Are we ready to handle the truth or are we so caught up in finding answers that we become blind to it?" I realized that much of the time (although at times he can and he does), Jesus doesn’t give us direct answers like “You should call her.” Instead, he tells us, “I’m everything you need.” He loves us so much that he often doesn’t tell us what to do. He gives us his word and allows us to make decisions on our own. That is why reading the Bible is so utterly important to our lives. It is so crucial when we begin to ask why. The first thing we should do is turn to God’s word, not to get answers to our problems, but to get the truth.
Unfortunately, God doesn’t speak specifically about dating, but he talks about how we should handle our interactions with other people and life situations that come at us like bugs hitting the windshield. God calls us to “love one another” (John 13:34-35, 1 John 4:7, John 15:17). God calls for us to “live at peace” with one another (Romans 12:16-18). God says that we should be patient in our decision-making (Psalm 40:1). God says that he will meet all of our needs (Philippians 4:19). God says that we should carry each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). God says that we should pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17), forgive one another (Luke 6:37), and be merciful to one another (Luke 6:36).
Are we ready to let the truth set us free?
