What does it mean to thrive in your relationships? A thriving relationship is one where both participants grow as individuals and grow together, being happy, joyful, and fulfilled. One where both can lean on each other in the challenging times and enjoy the company of each other in the good times. One where both members of the relationship are valued and heard. Over time, many relationships, including family, friends, and even marriages, can be put on the back burner and not taken care of. It can be easy to stop putting in the time and effort to grow their relationship, many Christians find themselves looking at their relationship and being content where it is, even though they haven’t been truly happy or fulfilled in it. Isaiah 54:2 tells us, “Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” The Lord wants us to thrive individually and in our relationships.  If you want to strengthen the relationships in your life and take them from a place of contentment to a place where you are thriving together with your friends and family, here are a few ways you can strengthen the stakes and get the full potential of what God has in store for your relationships. Make Your Relationships Christ-Centered If you want to take your relationship to new heights, the best way to do this is by centering the relationship around the Lord. When both have a strong faith in the Lord, whether it is a friendship, family, or marriage, both can follow the Lord’s will and trust that God will take the relationship where it is meant to be. Make sure the friends and relationships around you help bring you closer to the Lord and not farther away from Him. If you are looking for new Christian friendships, joining a small bible study group is a great way to start. Surrounding yourself with other believers can help strengthen your relationship with God and help you become the best version of yourself. Seek Help Through Christian Counseling If you are struggling in your relationship, reaching out to get help through Christian counseling can help both members understand and reconnect with each other better. Whether it is a marriage or a family member, counseling is a great tool to help your relationships thrive. Love Your Neighbor as Yourself One of the most famous verses of the Bible gives us a great example of this. “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14. God not only suggests this, but He also commands it. Many of us heard this verse growing up, but it is a verse we can often go back to that gives us directions on how to treat others. Jesus instructs us to love everyone. It takes us back to the Golden Rule. Relationships all have their ups and downs, but in times of misunderstanding, show empathy towards one another and remember that we are called to Love. The people we surround ourselves with significantly impact what we get from this life on earth. God calls us to love others, including those closest to us that we often have difficulty getting along with. Having other Christian relationships is vital to help us grow closer to God. Jesus spoke many times in the Bible of relationships and the importance of relationships in our lives. We are created to depend on each other and have friendships, marriages, and families to lean on. God intends for the relationships in our lives to help us thrive individually, and we are to help others do the same. Additional Resources: Five Love Languages