Things to look for in a relationship

What are you looking for in a relationship? 

Getting into a relationship should result in marriage. Otherwise, there is no point in having a relationship since you are wasting your time, money, and effort. 

Thus, knowing what to look for in a relationship is vital for you to enjoy your love life.

Christians must always base their standards on God’s perspectives to avoid settling for less and being unhappy. 

Things to look for in a relationship

Knowing what we should look for in a relationship is vital if we want to spend the rest of our lives with that person. There is no such thing as luck in having a healthy and happy relationship, but it takes the hard work of two people involved.

Before knowing how to make things work, we must discover what to look for in a relationship so it would be a balanced effort.

Let us dive into some things to look for in a relationship.

Have the same faith

As we mature in our spiritual life as Christians, the most significant thing to look for in a relationship is your faith. Do you share the same faith? 

Though there are some cases where others share the same faith when they are already in a relationship or marriage, it would take a lot of work to allow ourselves to be in a relationship with an unbeliever. 

Either you could bring them closer to God, or they could turn you away from God. 

2 Corinthians 6:14 says, “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?”

While some may think people can change, bad habits die hard. If you chose someone who does not even respect God, you will have difficulty practicing your faith, especially when you build your family.

Have plans and goals

It is good to be with someone with plans and goals to become a better person or have a better life. 

In reality, many married couples get divorced because they realize the person they married does not have clear goals or plans for what kind of life they would have.

One of our managers said we only have one life to live, so we must make the best of it. If we settled for someone without dreams, it will be hard for us to attain them. 

In getting into a relationship, you are entering into a partnership; thus, both should have the same goals to make it work and have a lasting healthy relationship. 

Furthermore, look for someone who discusses finances, savings, and investments. These are factors that could affect your marriage in the future.

Have respect

A healthy relationship is where you should feel respected regardless of your differences. This is where you are free to share your ideas, such as your dreams, wants, beliefs, and needs, without being criticized. 

Additionally, having respect in the relationship is one of the most essential ingredients for making it last happily. 

Also, God wants us to enjoy the gift of sharing intimacy with our partners, so it should be filled with gentleness and respect for each other.

Committed

Being in a relationship is not always happy, but those who choose to stay are committed to making it last. Look for someone willing to stay with you in good and bad times. 

Look for someone committed to holding on to your promises no matter how complex your struggles are. There will be ups and downs, but a committed relationship is one in which you and your partner will intentionally choose to stay and look forward to your future.

God-fearing relationship

Having a healthy, lasting relationship is possible with God. We must look for a God-fearing relationship since this would serve as our foundation for dealing with all the challenges together. 

A God-centered relationship has all the characteristics of love. 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Having a relationship without God can never have genuine love because only in God’s guidance and presence can we forgive and be humble.

Moreover, there could be many kinds of betrayal in relationships that we may not be aware of. Yet, when you and your partner fear the Lord, it will help you resist temptations. You can freely pray for your relationship to work.

Sometimes it is not enough to look for a Christian partner, but we must also consider if they genuinely pursue God’s commands.

Supportive relationship

Before meeting anyone or falling in love with someone, you already have personal dreams or goals in life. Another thing we must look for in a relationship is someone willing to support our plans, whatever it takes. 

A person who truly loves you would be willing to sacrifice to support you. Love is not selfish. They should motivate you and not hinder you from becoming successful in life. 

Some couples did not work because of conflicts with their careers and relationships. However, if your relationship is supportive, time and distance should never be an excuse for making it work. 

There should be no manipulation in a relationship where one demands the other to do something to prove their love for them.

More so, look for someone genuinely happy with your achievements and not treat you as a competition with their ego.

Trust in relationship

No healthy relationship works without trust in each other and without being trustworthy. Trust is another vital thing to look for in a relationship because it fuels your love for each other. 

It is necessary for you to be reassured about the whereabouts of your partner. Your insecurity is loud that you cannot be confident in the love that your partner is showing. 

Thus, there is no peace and joy in a relationship without trust.

Accountable

Before getting into a relationship, ensure the other person is accountable for their actions. They should be willing to accept their mistakes for their poor behavior. 

A relationship willing to give up its pride is what makes it long-lasting and happy. Some say that sometimes no matter what our reasons are, as long as we hurt our partner, we should be accountable. 

Sensitive with your feelings

Although our partner cannot guess everything in our mind, one thing we should look for in a relationship is someone sensitive enough to know our feelings.

It is good to be in a relationship where your feelings are valued and not taken for granted. Someone willing to care and make you feel safe in the relationship. 

Also, look for someone willing to respect your boundaries and your private time.

Your relationship matters to God

Every part of our lives is essential to God, especially the person we will choose to spend the rest of our lives with. This is crucial not to rush into a relationship because others have it. 

God wants to be involved in your romantic life because you are precious to Him as His child. Just like a parent who wants the best for their kid, God wants you to have the best partner in life. 

Thus, we should not get pressured and rush things but let Him write the perfect love story for us.