Two is Better Than One

My Aunt Peggy and Uncle Frank have been together for 40 years as of last year. They got married in a decade where interracial couples were looked down upon in society. Only two others came to their wedding, and most gave them less than a year before they got divorced, but here they are 40 years later re-upping and renewing their vows with even more love for each other than when they initially got married. 

If you have ever been in a relationship, be it romantic or platonic, you know that they all have their up's and down's. It can sometimes be hard to see why you are involved with the person and it's often tempting to cut and run. However, God warns us about doing this... it's hard to recover from a fall when you've pushed away everyone who can lift you up!

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 

This has become abundantly clear to me in my relationship with my boyfriend but it can apply to any relationship you are currently in. It's hard in today's day and age to stick around long enough to fix something that's broken. Why do you think the divorce rate in America is 55%?  That is an abomination, friends!  We should be severely embarrassed that our generation is so inwardly focused and selfish that they can't stop long enough to help pick their friends (or significant others) up, dust them off, and get them back on track. Just because it is hard does not mean we shouldn't try.  

It is especially difficult when depression is involved. Depression has this evil way of sneaking in to your life and getting tangled up in every part. I can speak about this from experience from both the depressed side and the friend/significant other of people who are frequently battling with depression. It is ABSOLUTELY a real issue and it's ABSOLUTELY from Satan. Those who are depressed tend to be cranky, sad, and often times will push away their close friends without realizing it. It's easy to say, "Psht! Fine, whatever. I don't need to deal with this." But that's not what God calls us to as friends!  He says in Proverbs that a friend loves at all times and that iron sharpens iron. What better way to sharpen each other in a relationship than showing that you are going to stick around and put in the work even when the going gets rough?  That is how we can use our relationships to be a testimony to God's good work in our lives because without Christ being involved, we would have no reason or conviction to stay and make it work.

I am a firm believer that everything in life happens for a reason. You are brought together with friends, even if just for a season, to be seasoning in each others lives. Whether you are the motivator or the motivated, the depressed or the one pulling your friends up out of the mud, you are there for a reason!  You add something to life that is uniquely yours. You have been given gifts that you can use to show God's love, majesty, and omnipotence. 

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace.

-1 Peter 4:8-10

I implore you to prayerfully stay in your relationships when it gets hard. God sees your heart and effort and will bless your dedication in His timing.