Lessons in Love, Faith, and True Peace.

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To be transparent and real, writing this, I wanted to be very condescending and harsh because I would have been coming from a hurt place, but because of where my walk with God is in this moment, I felt convicted and simply just decided to talk about the truth instead.

To start, you don't always know what someone might be going through. Nobody knows what is going on in someone's head. Ever. So don't be so quick to judge or assume. (Matthew 7:1-5) There are three sides to every story. But here's the thing... God already knows the truth, so it doesn't matter.

They say that God always hears and sees things that you don't hear or see, and protects you from that by taking you out of certain situations that you would not have taken yourself out of to begin with.

Now let's get into it. The topic is: Relationships & you are how you treat others.

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My last relationship was one that came out of nowhere. It blindsided me, and I definitely wasn't looking for it when it found me. But I was happy that it did. When it did find me, though, I immediately turned to God in prayer.

"God, show me a sign I'm supposed to be in this. A single white rose." "God if this is for me, allow me to grow with it and from it."

Here's the thing, I did get my single white rose that I had prayed for, but it was paper. A fake. And at the time that was enough for me to say YES! But, A few things I have learned from individuals deeper in their walk with Christ than I am and also wiser than me is this: 1. God isn't the only one who hears your prayers (if you're praying out loud). He is also not the only one who hears you speak., 2. God is almighty and powerful. If He is going to give you something you are praying for, something you are asking for, it is not going to be something made of paper, but the real thing. (Matthew 7:7-8), 3. The enemy can mimic, follow patterns, and imitate, but only God can create.

How powerful is it to know these?

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Now, I would like to preface this by saying nobody is perfect and I am extremely far from that. I fall short every single day.

My last relationship taught me a lot about myself, though. And I am thankful for that! Extremely! We were happy, from what I thought, and everything was good! But, looking at it now after having space and clarity from it, I can see the cracks and the flaws.

Here's the thing: Never stay in something or allow someone to keep you in something just because you are comfortable. Never settle for comfort. Never settle, period! Comfort can come in numerous different disguises and like I said before, the enemy can only mimic, but cannot create. Sometimes you will find that you're looking at somebody completely different and new, but really it's the same soul you have been dealing with this entire time... just with a different face. Yeah. Read that twice!

This relationship I am so thankful for because it taught me that if you speak of your boundaries properly and communicate them the first time, you should never have to repeat yourself again if it is someone who truly respects you. If those boundaries get disregarded and stepped on that is not something you need to stay in. Hold firm to yourself and your boundaries! It doesn't matter if you think you love them. It also taught me that if you have not healed from past trauma, but naturally just sweep things under the rug while continuing to do the same things that hurt others and have been communicated that they hurt others, you might not be ready for something serious or, honestly, anything at all.

Not everyone that you may love will be someone that you connect with forever, no matter what they may say or how you may feel. As much as this may suck in the moment... because it does, that's OKAY! The heart is deceitful. Everyone knows this, and if you don't, now you do! (Jeremiah 17:9)

When you are dating someone it can be hard and trying at times. You are two individuals with different lives coming together. Nobody said it would be easy. But, if there is no respect, no honesty, no truth, no God, but instead there are lies, disrespect, and deceit than you have no firm foundation to build anything on. (Matthew 7:24-29)

Everyone wants to have peace. Whether that's in relationships or just life in general, but when you are indulging yourself in behaviors that aren't conducive to peace and are affecting those around you.. how do you expect for there to be any peace at all? Peace is created. So, someone saying they want peace, but also conducting in selfish and hurtful behaviors continuously and expect there to still be peace is the definition of insanity. So, do not be surprised when things get extremely out of touch and out of hand. Especially whenever one person is trying to follow God while still being in the relationship and the other is running in the opposite direction. Again, nobody is perfect, but watching someone's actions, how they speak, or how they treat others that they say they love will show you what direction they are running in every time.

So, with that being said, choose to remember what has been done and what has been spoken, but also choose to work on forgiveness and peace.

I now know the significance of peace, and would rather seek that while running towards a meadow full of white roses that are truly from God than to hold onto a façade of a flower that doesn't live, breathe, or have any rooted foundation with no intentions or plans to grow. Because something I have learned within my walk is that if you are comfortable in your sins, you will not grow ever, but fall flat into the hole you dug every time. (Proverbs 26:11)

Remember, how you treat others is a reflection of your true heart and a reflection of God! Treat others good because that is how God would treat others, even people who might have hurt you, not because you may want to look good or feel good after.. selfishly.

Matthew 5:44

Just.. Be Radiant!! Always!

I also want to urge everyone to look at the bible verses I have placed throughout this post.