The Purpose of Dating (it's not marriage)

I've been putting off writing this article because quite honestly, I never wanted to believe it was true. I never wanted to believe that there actually could be another goal of a dating relationship or courtship rather than marriage.

After recently calling off a relationship with the man I truly believed that God wanted me to marry, I had to think deeper about what the purpose of this relationship had been.

I've been taught that the ultimate goal in a relationship is marriage. Don't misunderstand me I believe it is completely true, but I think we need to look a little deeper than that. Not all God centered relationships end in marriage. So that's where the question begins to be raised,

what's the purpose?

I'm convinced that beyond marriage as being the purpose of dating, it's learning how to love someone the same way that Christ loves us. In this previous relationship, it was not always easy to love him, it was not always easy to serve him, it was not always easy to submit to him. But, I learned how to love someone no matter how difficult it was at times.

Please understand me, I'm not saying that because I believe learning to love is one of the purposes of dating does not mean that dating becomes a way for you to learn how to love someone. Before we even started dating, we had the vision of marriage. Even though God decided it was not his plan for us to be together, I truly believe that I learned how to love and care for someone unconditionally.

So even if God decides to close a door on a relationship, it does not mean that you are a failure, or that your relationship is a failure (it's a lie from the enemy, don't believe it), but thinks about how your learned to love, cherish and serve another brother in Christ.


Sister in Christ,

Carrie