Are Relationships Supposed To Be Difficult?

Since the Bible teaches us to love others, we may sometimes allow people to repeatedly cross the boundaries of offense. However, we have a responsibility to take care of the different areas in our lives. When a relationship is impacting our time, other relationships, health, and mental wellbeing, we should take action to come to a place of peace - whether we decide to continue the relationship or not.

1. Understand the purpose of the relationship. Some relationships help motivate and discipline you, while others may strengthen and train you. Consider the relationship you may have with a coach. A fitness coach may ask you to do uncomfortable things to help you reach your goals. These types of relationships may feel awkward at first, but they are working to make you better. 2. Set boundaries. Every relationship has its purpose, however we need to establish boundaries to take responsibility for what we allow in our lives. It takes wisdom to know when to invest time and energy into a relationship and when to withhold. The book of Ecclesiastes shares that there is a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. There will be times when you need to limit a relationship, while other times you will need to avoid contact altogether. Read the book called Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. This book provides actionable principles to establish real boundaries in our relationships, especially with difficult people.