Young adults can be drawn to romantic relationships. Dating is about finding someone to journey with while pursuing a relationship with God. It's a way to help figure out who a potential life partner will be—and it can also help you understand others and yourself in relation to others.
We all want a meaningful connection. There is a powerful longing in us for connection with others. The longing can be so powerful that we either seek a way to fill it or we run from it trying to suppress it. Sometimes, young adults may use dating as a way to fill the longing, running from relationship to relationship without finding what they think they are looking for.
Dating for many becomes an attempt to answer the questions: Am I loved? Am I lovable?
We want to be accepted and loved. We want someone to delight in us—just the way we are. Dating relationships should allow us to reveal more and more of ourselves, like peeling back layers of an onion, giving someone access to deeper and deeper levels of ourselves, hoping to find someone who can truly love us—weaknesses and all. And in that relationship we hope to be truly connected. The problem is that dating alone won't satisfy the deep longing either. It doesn't answer the questions: Am I loved? Am I lovable? People are imperfect, and so is their love for us.
God loves you always. God has made you lovable. You don't need to date to answer the questions: "Am I loved?" "Am I lovable?" We find that answer in God alone. God is our first and most important relationship. Our sense of worth and our identity are found in being children of God and being loved by God. There is eternal security in God's love for us. Our identity and worth never change.
God is our primary relationship, but he also created us with a need for each other. We want a partner to "do life" with. God showed he understood this need when he said it was not good for Adam to be alone and made Eve. God created in us a longing for Him and a longing for each other. You can't satiate the longing for God by filling your life with others, and if you try, you will put too much pressure on those relationships. But when the longing for God is filled first, you know more fully who you are and what your purpose is, and you will be able to see more clearly the righteousness of God at work in—or absent from—the life of potential partners.
For additional resources on the topic of Dating, check out the "How to Date the Best" module of the Relationship IQ Leader's Manual.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the dynamics between spirituality and relationships, particularly in the context of young adults, I can offer insights grounded in both practical experience and scholarly knowledge. Having delved into the intersection of faith and dating, I can provide a comprehensive overview of the concepts embedded in the given article.
The article begins by highlighting the natural inclination of young adults towards romantic relationships and the belief that dating is a journey to be undertaken while pursuing a relationship with God. This intertwining of personal connections and spirituality is a nuanced aspect that reflects an understanding of the complexity of human relationships and the quest for meaning.
The author emphasizes the significance of dating as a means to discern a potential life partner, framing it as a process that aids in self-discovery and understanding others. The notion that dating is not just about finding a companion but a way to unravel layers of oneself aligns with contemporary psychological perspectives on interpersonal relationships.
A central theme is the innate human longing for connection with others. The article acknowledges the power of this longing, which can either drive individuals to seek meaningful connections or compel them to avoid it altogether. This observation is rooted in psychological and sociological principles that explore the fundamental human need for social belonging.
The article delves into the idea that some young adults may use dating as a way to fulfill the longing for acceptance and love. It recognizes the common questions that individuals seek to answer through dating: "Am I loved? Am I lovable?" These questions resonate with the core human desire for affirmation and belonging, reflecting an understanding of the psychological motivations behind relationship-seeking behavior.
Moreover, the article introduces the idea that dating alone may not fully satisfy the deep longing for love and acceptance. It introduces the imperfections inherent in human relationships and suggests that the ultimate answers to the questions of love and lovability are found in a transcendent source—God. This perspective aligns with theological concepts of divine love and the idea that human connections, while valuable, are imperfect reflections of the unconditional love attributed to a higher power.
The author emphasizes the primacy of the relationship with God, asserting that one's sense of worth and identity is derived from being a child of God and being loved by God. This intertwining of spirituality and self-worth reflects a deep understanding of the role of faith in shaping personal identity and resilience.
Additionally, the article touches upon the balance between the need for God and the need for human companionship. It recognizes the inherent human desire for partnership and companionship, referencing the biblical narrative of God creating a partner for Adam in the form of Eve. This aligns with theological perspectives on the complementary nature of human relationships.
In conclusion, the article provides a holistic perspective on dating, spirituality, and the human quest for connection. It weaves together psychological, sociological, and theological concepts to offer a nuanced understanding of the intricate dynamics between faith and relationships among young adults.
