An excellent question. The answer really depends on your definition of the word "love". I don't think anyone ever really falls into love, I think it's something that we grow into. I do believe that people fall into like, lust, and infatuation all the time and think it's love, but love is such a deep rich verb that it should be a crime to misuse it the way we do. Real love can sometimes begin as a crush or an infatuation but it doesn't become love without commitment and maturity and a willingness to lay down our own desires for the other person. When you look at the definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13 you realize that very few of us really love people the way God hopes we will. True love is more selfless and looks out for the good of the other person instead of getting caught up in all the emotion and becoming obsessed with them because of how they make us feel. That's why stories like Twilight and Romeo & Juliet can be so dangerous. What those characters have isn't love, it's an obsessive, destructive infatuation with another person where the desire for that person is uncontrollable and harmful to both parties. And yes, I do believe it's possible for people of all ages to find themselves trapped in something like that. They key is to be able to distinguish real love from other emotions that pretend to be love. If there's an element of desperation in your relationship with someone or if you're lost and want to die without them, what you have is a dark shadow of what God intended, and it will probably lead to a lot of pain in one or both of your lives. Love, on the other hand, isn't grasping or desperate, and looks out for the other person instead of trying to consume them. It also leaves us free to be ourselves and love God wholeheartedly.
To sum up, I don't believe that anybody really falls in love like in fairy tales, but it is possible for someone who is 13 or 14 to truly care about another person and want what is best for them, and that is the true foundation of a loving relationship. I have several friends who ended up marrying someone they had known since junior high or even grade school, and one reason their marriages have worked out so well is that they had a true friendship to base something more romantic on later in life. I would also caution you that it is possible for anyone, whether they're 13 or 31, to fall head over heals into a dangerous relationship, based on hormones and emotions, that leaves them worse off when it's over than they ever were before. Only Jesus is worth obsessing over and there are places in our hearts where only He belongs. Be careful not to fall for the world's version of love - it will leave you broken and hopeless.
Here are two very key pieces of advice when it comes to love and relationships, straight from God Himself. First - "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4:23) and second "Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires." (Song of Solomon 2:7) - which means don't go throwing yourself at boys because you think they'll make everything better. You're worth more than that, start believing it and trust God with the rest.









Comments (13)
Thank you for this article! It was definitely a great perspective.
Posted by kate | December 1, 2009 9:48 PM
wow, thank you so much! I've really been struggling with some stuff like this lately, and this is really a blessing from God.
Posted by ~rachel | December 2, 2009 1:20 PM
Excellent question and an insightful answer! I could definitely use this. :)
Thanks!
Posted by Christin | December 2, 2009 8:49 PM
I concur wholeheartedly! Thank you for choosing to answer this question :)
Posted by Hope | December 3, 2009 10:08 PM
im the grl who asked this q...thank u thank u thank u 4 answering!!!!! really really helpful... i feel important now lol;)
Posted by elizaclaire | December 4, 2009 3:23 PM
Eliza - you are important :)
Posted by jamie | December 4, 2009 10:58 PM
Such a wonderful response to a great question! :) I have found when one is head over heels it is good to ask yourself, “Who do I think of more right now, God or this guy?” If it’s the guy, there has been a shift in your thinking of who deserves first place in your thoughts and your heart.
If a boyfriend is the one you're thinking of the most, then he's likely motivating what you do. It's so easy to step into the wrong choices all in the name of love just b/c the boyfriend is front and center in your mind. You're so smart to ask this question!!! :)
Posted by S. Christina | December 5, 2009 4:26 PM
What an amazing message! God loves us more than anything, and we should love him in the same way.
Posted by Brittany | December 5, 2009 6:41 PM
This was a great answer! Thanks so much! I really have been in a tough situation right now and I have been thinking alot about this and what to do...this really helped! thanks! :P
Posted by Makayla | December 8, 2009 7:48 PM
thx jamie + s.christina!!!!!:):):):):)
Posted by elizaclaire | December 10, 2009 2:47 PM
after reading all the comments, im glad i was able 2 k/o hlp u gyz by asking this q!!!!! thx a lot 4 answering:) this site rox!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by elizaclaire | December 10, 2009 2:49 PM
Thank you so much for this article... it was so helpful, it helps me realize that God is the center of my life... Thank you Brittany for that, it made me take a step back and think about who i think of more, Thanks so much virtuous reality for this question!!
Posted by Kristina | December 10, 2009 11:07 PM
Sometimes at school people ask me why i always leave or change the topic when someone is talking about un-pure things when in a conversation, and I always say that Christ tells us to Guard our Hearts. I new what that meant to me, but i couldn't always explain it very well to them, so now i know how to explain it! thanks!
Posted by Danielle | January 1, 2010 9:38 PM