Having a Christ-centered Relationship That Will Make You Want to Wait

9/14/2017

Having a Christ-Centered Relationship - and Why it's Worth the Wait - Guest Post by Althea from letitbedone.org

"Today's post comes from a fellow sister-in-Christ. Thank you Althea for sharing your story and encouragement with us! " - Brittany

Waiting sucks. Sometimes it seems like all we do in life is wait; wait at the doctor’s office, wait for our next paycheck, wait for graduation, we are always waiting for the next big thing.

Often, when we are physically waiting for something (like our venti cold brew coffees), we check our phone to keep ourselves occupied. What do we do when we are waiting for a life event… like waiting for God to send you that special someone? Hopefully you are doing more than mindlessly scrolling through Facebook!

What does having a Christ-centered relationship look like and is it really worth the wait? Althea from letitbedone.org shares her story and why she says it's well worth the wait!

On move-in day my freshman year of college, I met the man who I believe is that special someone. I was in my brand-new dorm room with my mom and my grandma, setting up the loads of stuff I had brought, and facing my first big college crisis: making my bed.

You see, the beds were lofted (meaning they are high up, like the top bed of a bunk bed but there is nothing underneath) so we could not figure out how to get the sheets on! You had to sit on the bed to reach anything, yet if you sat on the bed you could not lift the mattress to put the sheets on! It is ridiculous!

Thankfully, a friendly sophomore was wandering by and my mom asked (well, told) him to come help us. He showed us the trick, judged the weird freshman who could not make her bed, and went on his way.

This seemed like a big red “stop” sign, the end of the road, and at the time it felt like the end of my love life forever. I mean, I could not try to stop someone from giving themselves to God, right? (Right!).

As our friendship grew, I learned that he had felt the call to discernment when he was younger, but had not been feeling it very strongly since entering college. Months passed of us being friends, talking about life, and forming a solid relationship.

Over time, this friendly sophomore appeared in a variety of faith-based activities that I attended. I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but soon enough I was head over heels. The only problem? He was discerning the priesthood.

Eventually I felt that I had to reveal my feelings for him, or I would always be wondering “what if” and holding onto false hope. Shortly after, he pulled me aside and told me that he was not ready for a relationship. I told myself that I was okay with this, and tried to move on.

My mission to move on was successful for a while, until we started hanging out more again. Our friend group decided to do a 90-day novena together, meaning that we would pray together every day for 90 days. I decided to dedicate this novena to my future spouse, and guess who I was thinking about the whole time...

To save you some time, I will spare you the rest of the details and just let you know that six months and many hard talks later, he felt that God was telling him he was finally ready for a relationship (with me).

"...he will always do his best to lead me closer to God and that is what is important."

Over a year later, we have grown closer to God every day and I am happier than I could have ever asked for. We have done devotionals together, faced hardships and turned to God, volunteered together, and been a good example to others of a what a relationship focused on God can look like.

Sure, we are not perfect, but I know that he will always do his best to lead me closer to God and that is what is important. After all those awkward talks and crying to my roommate many times about how he would never want to be with me, I can tell you that the wait was well worth it.

"If you do not lay the foundation of your relationship in Christ, your relationship will likely not be strong enough to withstand the tests coming your way."

Still wondering what the benefits to waiting for a Christ-centered relationship are? Wondering why you cannot just gradually incorporate Christ as you go along? It is because your strength lies in Him. If you do not lay the foundation of your relationship in Christ, your relationship will likely not be strong enough to withstand the tests coming your way.

As a wise priest once told me, “You don’t build a boat on the water”. Build your boat first, wait for the right guy, pray together, grow together. After this you will have a relationship that can handle anything thrown at it, and that will always lead you closer to (not away from) Christ.

"As a wise priest once told me, 'You don't build a boat on the water'. Build your boat first, wait for the right guy, pray together, grow together."

For four books I recommend to prepare yourself for Christian dating, read my post Four Amazing Books About Christian Dating.

If you are feeling lost and having a hard time waiting for God to reveal His plan, you can try my free seven day devotional, Mary’s Fiat. It is seven days of reflection on the calling of Mary, and how we can use that in our own lives!

Are you in or waiting for a Christ-centered relationship? Share any tips or encouragement you have for others who are waiting as well!

Meet Althea!

Hey there! My name is Althea and I am the blogger behind letitbedone.org! I am currently a full-time student, studying both Political Science and Spanish at a quaint little school in the Pacific Northwest. I’m passionate about a lot of things: Jesus, youth ministry, social justice, tacos, and especially ice cream… and my blog is the place where all of that will come together in one semi-organized journey of self-discovery!