“Setting Boundaries In Toxic Relationships”

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Toxic is defined as causing unpleasant feelings; harmful or malicious; poisonous; unhealthy; destructive; hurtful. 

It's not a sin to keep ourself safe, it's actually a wise thing. Life is precious, but a lot of our time is spent around negative, toxic people, draining the life right out of us. These people can be co-workers, friends or sadly, even family members. If you're in a toxic relationship, you do not need to "get used to it" or "just get over it." It is ok to distance yourself. In distancing yourself from the toxic relationship, you create space for empathy and forgiveness. When you forgive someone, you are not only offering them the gift of forgiveness, you are setting yourself free from holding onto a grudge. You exchange a heart of bitterness and anger for one focused on God's love. There are many who consider the idea of staying away from certain people as rejecting them. To be honest, it's not. The Lord Jesus Christ commanded all His followers to be wise and that includes dealing with certain people in our lives. Toxic people are the kind who are loaded down with various lusts and issues that they are either not dealing with or are using to in some way manipulate or control their relationship with others. They might appear good, kind, even "angelic," but you'll know by their fruits that they really aren't. Paul warns us about such people. Befriending and spending time with such people becomes dangerous because the word tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:33; “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

I come by this afternoon to let you know we must pray and give God the opportunity to work. God’s greatest desire is to set us free. And sometimes what propels that change is for some brave soul to be willing to say, “Stop, no more.” One who will choose what is better, and learn to set boundaries that will protect and limit the control of a toxic relationship. Be bless and I love you!!! JE