Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Ephesians 5:21

What image comes to mind when you hear the word “obey?” It’s definitely a word that is hard to connect to romantic relationships.

However, in terms of romantic relationships, often either the boyfriend or girlfriend unintentionally asserts control over his/her partner in the relationship.

Is your current romantic relationship or romantic feelings heading toward marriage, with both partners obeying one another instead of one-sided obedience?

In this relationship of submitting to one another, fearing your partner or your partner’s reactions will result in failing to establish a relationship. If you fear being abandoned, you can’t establish a relationship. On the other hand, if your partner fears you or your reactions, a relationship can’t be established. If your partner fears being abandoned by you, a relationship can’t be established.

That’s why I’d like for you to know the foundation of establishing a healthy romantic relationship.
You don’t have to live with the fear and anxiety of constantly being under someone’s constant watch and thoughts. No matter what other people say, God accepts you as you are through Jesus. God will never abandon you. That’s because nothing in this world can tear us apart from God’s unconditional love for us.

By believing in and trusting in one another, it’s possible, not impossible, to build a healthy marriage of obedience where two people are able to come together as one.

A relationship of submitting to one another is the best! That’s because this relationship is totally different from one in which you’re being ruled over. We can trust one another to make decisions with the other’s best interests in mind; therefore, we can have a relationship where we can say “yes” out of pure happiness and not out of fear.

I’m praying for you to be set free from the fear of “having to obey,” and for you to instead find peace and joy in trusting and obeying.

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. – Ephesians 5:33

Nobuki