God's Plan For Your WellbeingIsampula

Relational wellbeing

Relationships matter... a lot. I can’t count the number of times I’ve opened up to close companions and having shared my struggles with these trusted people, I’ve come away feeling healthier, lighter, clearer and more positive because of their empathetic listening, prayer support and godly counsel. 

The importance of relationship is central to God’s plan for our wellbeing. The Bible teaches that not only is relational connectivity God’s idea, but God Himself is a relational being. The Christian doctrine of the Trinity highlights that there is one God, eternally existing in the three ‘persons’ of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. At the heart of this divine community is eternal love and concern for each other. Since God is at His core a relational being, so are we. Made in His image, we are designed to live in community, loving and caring for one another. This means that while we have ‘vertical’ needs that can only be satisfied by a close, personal relationship with God Himself, we also have ‘horizontal’ needs that can only be met by healthy relationships with other people.

God’s simple declaration at the creation of the first human being was this: ‘It is not good for the man to be alone’ (Genesis 2:18). His solution? He created ‘another’, a woman to be united to and have a deep and intimate relationship with the man. Although this is a wonderful passage celebrating the origins of marriage, it has a much broader application than that. It highlights that as human beings, whether we are single or married, introverts or extroverts, we were not designed to be alone. 

The human need for true connection with others is clearly illustrated in the story of Elijah. One of the most salient lessons of his burnout in 1 Kings 19 is that, prior to going into the desert, Elijah dismissed his servant, the only companion he had at that critical point in his life. This was a big mistake. At this point in his story, more than ever, Elijah needed friends. 

Thankfully, God had a plan for Elijah’s relational wellbeing. First, because Elijah was in a desert and there were no other human beings out there, God directly intervened by sending His angel to him. Later, at Mount Horeb, God gave him a more permanent solution by telling him to go and seek out a young man called Elisha. This was a hugely significant turning point. For the first part of his ministry, due to persecution from the royal family, Elijah carried out his prophetic ministry largely alone. Now, the Lord in His kindness provided him not just with a co-worker and future successor, but a companion who from then until his death would be alongside him. 

We all need others to help us, not just in times of crisis, but in every season of our lives. It’s a popular Bible reading to include in wedding services, but Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 is for all of us: ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.’ 

Put simply, we need each other.