SUNDAY

John 1:1-2

• What authority does Jesus have over your life and our world?

Kate was worried about her best friend. Ever since Nathalie had been dating Garrett, she had gotten noticeably quieter, sharing less and less with Kate as the weeks, then months, trickled by. One thing Kate noticed was that every time she hung out with Nathalie and Garrett, Nathalie seemed to defer to her boyfriend on…everything. “Where do you want to eat for dinner?” Kate asked Nathalie one day. Immediately, her friend’s gaze fell on Garrett, as if asking for his input, despite the question being aimed at Nathalie. Garrett has hockey practice tonight—he’s not even coming with us! Kate thought. Why does she care what he thinks? Nathalie got quieter and quieter until, Kate realized, she was almost silent–only when Garrett was around. Something was off.

Red flag after red flag began to wave gently, then aggressively, in Kate’s face. Finally, she confronted her friend, who tearfully confirmed some unhealthy behavior that had become normal in her and Garrett’s relationship. Kate helped Nathalie process her feelings, and after a few days of reflection, Nathalie decided to break things off with Garrett. After a few long weeks in which she talked with her family and the school counselor, Nathalie was beginning to return back to being her old, warm, bubbly self.

Surrendering unilateral authority to another person is extremely unhealthy, as Kate instinctively observed in her friend’s relationship dynamic. Surrendering to Jesus, on the other hand, only helps us. Why? Humans are fallible. Jesus will never fail us. How can you surrender authority to Jesus in your life this week?

If you or a friend is struggling with a potentially toxic or abusive relationship, please confide in a teacher, pastor, parent, or adult that you trust. There is help available and no one should feel silenced in any relationship!