Solutions February 2019 | Page 29

5. Help them realize their longing to feel loved is normal. God created each of us with a longing to find our worth in who loves us. The problem lies when we look to find our worth in how well a significant other treats us. The aching we have to feel treasured can only be satisfied when we realize that God loves us so much that He sent His Son to purchase us for Himself. The intimacy with the Creator was stolen away when mankind sinned in the garden. From then on, we all search for love in the wrong places. God is the only answer to the longing of our hearts. 6. Find someone who loves God more than they love you, and they’ll be able to love you with His selfless love. The Bible instructs believers not to marry unbelievers. While it’s easy to tell our kids, “just don’t marry a non-believer” it’s more valuable to explain to them why. One very important reason is because the only people who have the capacity to love others with Christ’s selfless love are those whose hearts have been transformed by the Holy Spirit. We regularly told our own children as well as our youth ministry kids, “Marry someone who loves Jesus more than they love you and you’re on the right track to a marriage that will last a lifetime.” Telling our kids how not to feel will do nothing to guide their hearts. But exposing them to real Christ honoring romance will kindle a spark of hope that God really is sovereign over romance and love. Rhonda Stoppe Rhonda Stoppe is the No Regrets Woman. With more than 30 years of experience as a marriage mentor, pastor’s wife, author and speaker, Stoppe leads women of all ages to live lives of no regrets. Using sound biblical teaching through humor and honest communication, Stoppe teaches women how to apply God’s word to live boldly through the power of the Holy Spirit. Stoppe has appeared on radio programs and has spoken at women’s events, MOPs groups and homeschool conventions around the nation. Pick up your copy of Rhonda’s book Real Life Romance, a compilation of 25 love stories of ordinary people who found extraordinary love. Solutions • 29