Porn is a sensitive subject in the context of dating, but it’s something we can’t ignore. Sin retains its power when it stays a secret. It loses it in the light of the gospel. That’s why I’m excited to share a conversation I had with Joy Skarka about pornography and dating. Joy is the director …
The stereotypical emotions of a dating relationship are feelings like happiness, excitement and joy. But the emotions I felt most often while dating were probably fear, worry and doubt. Don’t get me wrong — I was really happy, excited and joyful. But if you zoomed into my day-to-day emotional status, you’d see I worried a …
Two Powerful Lies that Keep You Worrying about Your Relationship Read More »
If you’re wondering how to be a godly girlfriend, you’re probably someone who’s seeking to be a godly woman. I think that’s awesome. But if you recently started dating, the concept of being a godly girlfriend may be bewildering and overwhelming. Your current situation reminds me of how I felt standing alone at an intersection …
How To Be a Godly Girlfriend: 3 Simple Encouragements Read More »
Have you ever missed your boyfriend so much that it almost physically hurt? The distance between you gnaws until you ache. But there’s another nag, too. In the back of your mind, you worry that letting another person affect your emotions this much is not good. When we were dating, I wondered if it was …
Can You Miss Your Long-Distance Boyfriend Too Much? Read More »
Long-distance relationships can feel a little exclusive. It’s almost unavoidable in a healthy dating relationship, really. If you only talked with your boyfriend when other people were around, you wouldn’t spend much time talking with him at all. As much as you enjoy it, though, you might be afraid that all of this one-on-one time …
7 Creative Ways to Pursue Community in a Long-Distance Relationship Read More »
Is it just me, or does Thanksgiving feel harder this year? It’s not just that many of us can’t be together with the people we love. The act of authentically giving thanks to God feels more difficult with everything going on in the world. But let’s stop and look at the word “thanksgiving” for a …
5 Ways to Praise God When You Don’t Feel Thankful Read More »
Disclosure: I received a free copy of Growing Together in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links, which means that as an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. As I’m sure you know, the foundation of a healthy long-distance relationship is a growing …
Growing Together: A Useful Conversation Guide for Mentoring Relationships Read More »
This prayer for your boyfriend isn’t the prayer you’re looking for. It’s not going to make you feel better about your relationship. It’s not a magic formula that will compel God to make your relationship last. But it might just be the prayer that you need to pray. Are You Praying For Your Boyfriend Or …
An Uncommon (But Convicting) Prayer For Your Boyfriend Read More »
Why is it so hard to keep your physical & emotional boundaries in a long-distance relationship? I asked that question in an Instagram story last week, and the overall theme was…. You feel like you need to make up for lost time & show that you love each other. Those reasons make sense. With physical …
Not Just Rules: 5 Better Ways To Think About Your Boundaries Read More »
Someone recently asked if I’d share the entire story of our long-distance relationship. You’ll notice bits and pieces of it across Dating at a Distance, but this is the first time I’m sharing it all in one place. I think the best way to explain our story is with the words I wrote in April …
Self-doubt is a crippling struggle for all kinds of people. But it holds a particular danger for those in dating relationships. Why? The closer you grow to your boyfriend, the easier it is to turn to him for affirmation of your adequacy. Now, God may use your boyfriend to speak truth into your life. As …
How To Escape The Trap of Self-Doubt in a Relationship Read More »
Long-distance relationships can feel very lonely. You might not have expected that when you first started dating. I know I didn’t. I expected to feel sad and miss my boyfriend. But the loneliness surprised me. If you’re feeling lonely right now, you’re not alone. Below are three reasons why I think long-distance relationships can be …
Leaving the honeymoon phase in a long-distance relationship — when everything feels perfect — can be disheartening. Distance is difficult enough by itself. Yet exiting the “in love” stage can be a sign that your relationship is maturing. The transition might feel abrupt, but it’s part of a normal progression toward real love. If you’re …
3 Things to Remember When You Leave the Honeymoon Phase of a Long-Distance Relationship Read More »
In honor of Mother’s Day, I decided to ask my mom how she felt about my long-distance relationship. My husband, Reed, and I met during high school, and we started dating when we were freshmen in college. At the time, our parents were still a major part of our lives. When I transferred to his …
I Asked My Mom How She Felt About My Long-Distance Relationship Read More »
Saying goodbye to your long-distance boyfriend when your next visit is uncertain can be excruciating. As you search for the end of the indefinite calendar space between you, worry and anxiety creep in. Yet we give fear an advantage when we take legitimately hard-to-swallow facts — “We don’t know when we’ll see each other again” …
3 Facts to Remember During Uncertainty in a Long-Distance Relationship Read More »
On your morning run, you see a couple sitting on a park bench and staring into each other’s eyes. Your stomach feels like it’s about to cramp, but not from the exercise. While driving home, you call your friend who attends the same university as your boyfriend. She recounts how he led their team to …
Battling Envy in a Long-Distance Relationship With Tilly Dillehay Read More »
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. From boy-crazy to boy mom, Paula (Hendricks) Marsteller’s life has changed a lot in a few years. In 2013, Paula published the book Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl: On Her Journey from Neediness to Freedom, sharing her story of learning to …
Rejoicing is not my natural response to suffering — and certainly not to suffering in a long-distance relationship. Complaining? Yes. Self-pity? Of course. But joy is the Biblical response. I can’t escape the clarity of Romans 5:3, “We rejoice in our sufferings” or James 1:2, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials …
Why Rejoice in the Trial of Long-Distance Dating? Read More »
In part one of this series on submission in marriage, I addressed common problems and answers related to a complementarian understanding of Ephesians 5. I talked about why submission doesn’t scare me anymore in light of the gospel. Yet even after our wedding, I have to admit: submission still scares me. Don’t get me wrong, …
Do the words “submission in marriage” make you bristle? Perhaps it should, if we look at human history. Men have abused and exploited women in the name of submission. Executives have borrowed it as an excuse for domination and discrimination in the workplace. Our society labels it synonymous with cleaning, cooking, and keeping your mouth …