Do you desire to make deep connections with those around you but find it difficult? Renee Swope, contributor at (in)courage gives several steps we can take to build lasting relationships.
Be patient.
Relationship don’t just happen overnight. Cultivating deep connections requires time and effort. Renee reflects on her experiences of moving to a new city.
“I can look back and remember it took three years to feel like the friends I had made had become more than just acquaintances.”
Start from the ground up.
Before we make deep connections with others, we want to make sure our connection with God is strong, as well as our connection with our spouse.
“I learned that God wanted to be a best friend for me. I think He allowed things to go a lot more slowly so that I would develop a really close relationship with him. I also think in that season of life the Lord wanted me to develop a really close relationship with my husband.”
Be a good friend.
Renee also learned that God doesn’t want us to live with a mindset of always taking from others, but giving to others as well.
“The third thing that I discovered was that God was challenging me to look for ways to be a good friend instead of looking and asking Him to give me a good friend. To look around and instead of just wanting to be at the cool kids table, I wanted to create my own table and invite people to it. I knew that I was supposed to be a place for those people who were probably feeling the same way I was.”
Before we can see what God has in store for us, we have to trust Him while we wait.
“He always has something good for us in store, but usually we don’t find it until we’re willing to walk in faith and trust Him to provide it.”
Renee Swope is the best-selling and award-winning author of , a life-changing message that’s been published in Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Polish and English, with over 130,000 copies sold worldwide. Renee has been on staff with Proverbs 31 Ministries for 19 years, and serves part-time as Executive Director of Radio and Social Media. Renee also contributed to the book which is featured on this show.
Key Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6
Featured Songs: Sinking Ships – Lincoln Brewster; Open Hands – Laura Story; Home – Chris Tomlin
Craving connection
