Praying for Companionship
Companionship is something we desire as human beings, not just as Christians. God has always intended for us to form relationships and connections with each other but when that doesn’t happen, we can fall into negative emotions. Loneliness is a terrible feeling that has become so common, some argue it is an epidemic. Sadly, many brothers and sisters in Christ have experienced loneliness but the good thing about that is that we have a Father who cares for our emotions.
In my last article, Overcoming Loneliness, we talked about loneliness in Christianity and how to combat it through faith. But overcoming this feeling is not the same as having companionship. Today I want to share with you a few examples of the wonderful relationships we see throughout the Bible. Whether you are looking for a spouse, a friend, or restoration of a lost relationship, God wants you to have a companion—all you’ve got to do is ask.
Genesis 2 tells us that God wants us to have relationships while we live on this earth. While it is certainly okay to be alone, God finds joy in our connections with other people and He desires for us to connect with Him as well. Even Jesus cherished His relationships; during His time here on earth, He grew to love His disciples and followers and asked God if He would remove His cup [Luke 22:42]. But what else does the Bible say about companionship?
Proverbs 18:22 NIV says He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.
I don’t think I have to spend much time explaining how much God loves and cherishes marriage between a man and woman in the Word of God. In America, and many other places throughout the world, the idea of marriage has been tainted and warped but the Word of God remains.
Growing up, I went to many youth groups and college ministries who told the attendees discouraging things like, maybe God doesn’t want you to be married. Maybe singleness is His will for you.
I have the utmost respect for leaders in the Body of Christ, but I must disagree with some of the teaching methods I’ve endured over the years. Marriage is a gift from our Father, lifetime companionship is something He wants us to have. So don’t ever think that God doesn’t wish for you to have a spouse or enjoy marriage. There is nothing wrong with being single, many Christians are unmarried and live perfectly happy and righteous lives. You don’t have to get married but if that is what you desire, all you have to do is ask God and have the patience to wait in faith for the spouse He has for you.
Now we know God wants us to have a loving spouse, but marriage is not the only form of companionship. Let’s look at what the Word says about other relationships in our lives.
If you remember the story of David, then you might remember the parts of his life that included his dear friend Jonathan. I Samuel 18:1-4 gives us some insight on just how much affection was shared between the two young men. Today, there are some who have corrupted this friendship and presented it to be a sort of connection that it most certainly was not. As a Christian, I believe the relationship between King David and Jonathan was not an ungodly passion, but a beautiful example of what Christians may share when they love both God and each other.
If you are someone who isn’t looking for a spouse but instead wants to find new Christian friends, pray for a relationship like that of David and Jonathan. As much as God cherishes Christian marriage, I can promise you He also loves when His children form loving and trusting friendships too.
Maybe you aren’t looking for friends or marriage, perhaps you are praying to have a wonderful relationship with your family. God loves families too! If He treasures Christian marriages, what makes you think He wouldn’t also treasure Christian families?
Think of the story of Ruth; a foreign woman who manages to find true love and stability in a strange land surrounded by unfamiliar people. This is something only God could have done but I want to look at more than just Ruth’s romance with Boaz or the riches she gained by marrying him. Let’s talk about the reason Ruth was in Bethlehem to begin with.
Ruth 1 details the tragedy that befalls a woman named Naomi that leaves her without sons and their wives without husbands. Naomi urges her daughters-in-law to return to their own hometowns and find new husbands, but Ruth chooses to stay, declaring to her mother-in-law, Where you will go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God [Ruth 1:16-17 NIV].
Ruth was willing to relocate to a foreign land to be with her mother-in-law and to take on a new faith, worshipping a God that was not hers, because she loved Naomi so much. Their bond was not one formed of the convenience of marriage, it was a genuine relationship that bound them together, even in death, according to Ruth [Ruth 1:17].
You can have a wonderful relationship with your family and your in-laws. Sometimes making bonds with our extended family can be a hassle but God is bigger than any argument or disagreement that could ever stir within your household. But what if you get along perfectly fine with your family? What if your prayer request is instead for restoration of a lost relationship with a sibling or parent?
Let’s turn to Luke 15:11-31, the story of the prodigal son. For those who aren’t familiar with the tale, it is a story about a young man who willingly walks away from his father and brother to begin a life down the wrong path. After realizing the error of his ways, the prodigal son returns home to a very warm welcome from his loving and forgiving father and takes his place in his father’s home to begin a new and righteous life.
Those who are familiar with this passage know that it is a story representing our walk with Christ. While the story is symbolic of our relationship with God, it also represents what Christ can do for us and our families. If you have a child who has left your home or left the Body of Christ, God can return him/her to you. No matter the situation, just know that God is always in control.
God wants you to live a loving and healthy life of love and friendship but the most important relationship you will ever have is the one you form with Christ. It doesn’t matter how much your spouse loves you or how much you love your children if you aren’t rooted in Christ Jesus. You might be able to find a husband/wife without God but only God can give you a happy, long-lasting marriage. You might be able to have a child without God but only the Lord can ensure your child grows up healthy and strong. You may make plenty of friends without God, but Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother [Proverbs 18:24].
There are enough biblical references here for you to know that God wants you to make connections with others, but what I want you to remember is that while God wants you to enjoy these relationships its important that you allow Him to provide them for you. I urge you to wait on God, lean on God, and trust in God for every connection you form. I have an article on this matter called, Unequally Yoked that talks about much more than just marrying the wrong person. Please give it a read and join my monthly newsletter to stay notified of new posts. I think I’ll stay on this topic and explore Ungodly Relationships in my next article. See you then!