Want to thrive in relationships?

It ain’t easy. And yet, it’s imperative. Because whether you’re looking to scripture or science, healthy, whole, intimate relationships; the kind where you can know deeply and be deeply known; are not optional. They’re essential

And this makes sense. After all, we’re image-bearers of a Creator who has existed for all eternity in perfect relationship with Himself: Father, Son, and Spirit. So, at FMU, we believe:

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God desires to draw you into a deep and abiding relationship with Himself, and then to lead you into meaningful relationships with others.

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Perhaps one of those other relationships includes a future spouse with whom you can enjoy a life-giving, lifelong marriage.

Sound good to you? Splendid! Because this page was designed to direct you to our most helpful posts and videos we’ve produced to empower you to thrive in relationships.

Your Basic Relational Needs

• LOVE: Are you looking for love? Maybe trying to earn love? Or afraid of losing love? Click the applicable hyperlink.
• BELONGING: I wrote several posts for you who feel like you’re alone. Is that you?
• INTIMACY: If you’re going to rock your relationships like a boss, you need to clearly grasp what you most long for from the important people in your life.
• ATTENTION: Can’t seem to get enough attention? Do you feel invisible when your loved ones aren’t giving you the attention you want? Do you doubt whether God sees you? Give your attention to one of the previous hyperlinks.
• ACCEPTANCE: If you long to fit in or if you wonder how God could accept you just the way you are, click the “acceptable” hyperlink.

Your Relationship with God

• Trusting God: Struggling to make sense of God? Feel like He’s let you down? More specifically, does your prolonged wait for “The One” cause you to doubt Him? The reality? You need to learn to trust God. Because you can’t really enjoy a close relationship with someone you don’t trust. Not even God.
• Knowing God’s Will: Do you wonder why God’s will is so hard to find? Feel like you’re always guessing at God’s will? Do you worry you’ll miss His will? Tired of waiting for Gods will? Knowing His will begins with knowing how to approach God.

Love Assassins

• Wonder why your relationships are NOT working?
• What if you’ve developed relational habits that will stunt your social life and sabotage your ability to thrive in long-term, sacrificial relationships? We call these relational habits Love Assassins. The first four are summarized in this post and the last five are summarized in this post. Or consider the questions below to identify the love assassins most likely lurking in your life.
• Are you expecting too much from your relationships?
• Are you wanting a relationship to be 50-50?
• Are you looking for your identity in dating?
• Are you a control freak?
• Do you tell white lies?
• Do you have a victim mentality?
• Do you struggle with bitterness? Also, we have a whole Hot Topic page dedicated to forgiveness, which we believe to be the single most important relational skill.
• Are you too set in your ways?
• Do you struggle with negativity?

The Single Life

• Despite your best efforts are you still single? There’s hope offered in the previous hyperlink.
• Are you happy single? Read this before it’s too late! More specifically, are you young, single, & career-focused? Read this before it’s too late!
• If you are still in your teens or early 20s, read this post to help you avoid your single life crisis.
• Simply tired of being asked, “Why are you still single?” The Single Person’s Guide to Relationship Status Interrogation might be helpful, but it will definitely be fun to read.
• Would you like to end your search for “The One”? Click the previous hyperlink for a better goal to aim for.

Is This Going to Keep You Single?

• Your mom
• Your dad
• What about the possible role of porn? (Yes, even if you don’t partake!)
• Feminism [MEN ONLY] [WOMEN ONLY]
• The romantic worldview sold by Disney (and most of the rest of the entertainment world)
• Hooking up
• What if your singleness is due to your reliance on (or addiction to) texting specifically (or your phone in general)?
• Could another pandemic keep you single? OK, maybe I had a little fun with this one, which I wrote during the 2020 pandemic.
• If you want to read all the posts in the series, Is This Going to Keep You Single?, click the previous hyperlink

The Friend Zone

• Ever wonder why nice guys (and girls) get friend-zoned?
• Do you know the blind spots that get you friend-zoned?
• Would you like to know how to avoid the friend zone?
• Have you friend-zoned yourself already without realizing it?
• Are you dealing with rejection in the friend zone?
• Has your experience in the friend zone made you bitter? And what is that bitterness doing for you?
• Want to kiss the friend zone goodbye for good?
• The Friend Zone Files addresses all of the above issues, and begins with these 3 Reasons You Get Friend-zoned.

Marriage

• Is marriage outdated?
• Is Marriage For You specifically?
• When is the right time to pursue marriage? What are the DANGERS of marrying young? What are the BENEFITS of marrying young?
• Here’s why preparing for your future marriage is worth it even if you never marry.
• If you’re going to thrive in long-term, sacrificial relationships of any sort, you want to learn to prioritize friendship over romance. That’s why the previous hyperlink highlights several posts on that topic.
• If you marry with the wrong expectations for marriage, you’re going to be tremendously unhappy, even if you marry a great partner, so you need to grasp what the marriage vows cannot vow.
• Learn the 3 critical life lessons for relational success before you fall in love. Preferably before you date.
• Commit to the 3 key life disciplines for relational success. Or let the hard knocks of life discipline you.
• Make the 3 crucial life decisions or decide to suffer the consequences.