Gen Z Daters–This One’s for Youናሙና

Trusting

Isn’t it crazy how you can be on Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat (or all three!), connecting with millions of people, yet you still feel alone and isolated? Thanks to technology, we live in a hyper-connected world, yet we feel more isolated than ever. Technology is amazing in so many ways, but it also feeds mental health issues.

Gen Z is more likely than any other generation to speak up about mental health issues and seek help to get better, which is wonderful. But it’s also true that Gen Z is the most depressed and anxious generation.

If you aren’t careful, spending too much time on social media may make you feel like you’re not pretty enough, fit enough, smart enough, successful enough, worthy enough, funny enough, [fill in the blank] enough. You may even start to think you aren’t worthy of finding someone to date and potentially spend your life with.

Before you know it, your mind is filled with lies about who you are and why the future you want, the relationship you desire, is just out of reach.

Dating is already hard enough. But when you’re feeling depressed, anxious, worried, overwhelmed, or unworthy, it can feel impossible. While there is absolutely a time and place to seek help from a mental health professional, your relationship with God is also a huge asset when it comes to managing your mind.

The Bible tells us exactly what to do with these thoughts: take them captive and submit them to God. Don’t run with them… don’t let them live rent-free in your mind, creating new, worse thoughts about who you are. Capture them, and give them to God. And in return, God will give you truth and peace about who you really are.

Learning how to trust God and make your thoughts obedient to Him is essential when you date. Rather than letting your mind play the “what if” game…

What if… he doesn’t think I look as good in person as in my dating profile?

What if… she won’t like me because I’m in between jobs right now?

What if… I get my heart broken again?

What if…

There’s a way better way to date than playing the what-if game. It’s called the trust game. When your mind is steadfast–committed to Christ–you can date with more peace and less fear and anxiety. When you trust that God knows what He is doing and has a perfect plan for your life, you can relax and enjoy the process more.

Start today by submitting your thoughts to God with this prayer:

Dear God,

I submit all of my negative, anxious, unhelpful thoughts to You. I know that my mind can easily wander and start thinking about things that aren’t beneficial. I also know that Your perfect peace is something I need while dating. I ask that You will help me keep my mind focused on You while I trust You to bring the right person into my life at the right time. In Jesus' name, Amen.