If you want to go on a journey. If you're skeptical, don't worry. Not here to preach. I'm gonna keep it clean and talk to me and recall where faith needs fars nature, get in touch with your creator with a baking love and jew She even speaks Hebrew. What's that? Gotza? What's that? This? Well sabosation? You should talking transformation? What's that Gonzato? Hey? Hey, and welcome back to What's God got to do with it? And today we're tackling another really important question from one of our listeners, and here is what they asked. They said, I'm trying to grow in my faith, but I have people in my life who don't share my beliefs, and honestly, some of them even pull me away from God. I don't want to be judgmental, but I also don't want to compromise my faith. How do I handle relationships like these? First of all, this is such a great question, and it's a really real question because navigating relationships and faith is not easy because, let's be honest, when you're walking with God, not everyone in your life is going to be on the same journey. And so maybe you have friends who don't understand your faith, or maybe you have family members who challenge your beliefs or even make fun of them. Or maybe you're in a relationship that started out great, but now you feel like it's leading you further from who you want to be. And this is where the tension comes in, right, Because we are called to love people and we're called to be a light in the world, but we're also called to guard our hearts and protect our faith. And so how do we balance that and how do we stay strong in our faith without pushing people away? And how do we set boundaries without feeling like we're judging or rejecting other people? And how do we know when it's time to step back from a relationship completely? And So, again, by no means am I an expert here. I'm on this journey myself. But that's what we're going to unpack today. And so if you've ever struggled with this, or if you've ever felt torn between loving people well and staying firm in your beliefs, then you are in the right place. So grab your tea, your coffee, get cozy, and let's dive on in. So why is this so hard? Like, let's start with that and simply start by acknowledging why this is such a difficult thing to navigate. And so, first, we're wired for connection. You know, God designed us to be in relationships with Him and with others, and so when we feel like our faith is at odds with people that we care about, it creates this deep internal conflict. Second, we don't want to seem judgmental, right, Like, no one wants to be that Christian, right, the one who acts holier than thou or makes people feel like they're not good enough. Right. We've all experienced that in person, I'm sure, and let's be honest, it's not a great color on us, right. And then the third reason this is so hard is because change is uncomfortable. Right when you start growing in your faith, not everyone around you is going to understand it, and some people will support you, but others will question you. And some may even be threatened by your change and what's transforming inside of you because it forces them to reflect on their own choices or they might feel like they're losing you. Right, So there's a number of reasons people can actually feel threatened by it. So let's break all of this down, Like, how do we handle this in a way that honors God, protects our own faith walk, but also so that we can still love people. Well, well, first let's look at what the Bible says about this. And God actually speaks a lot about relationships and how they shape us. So let's look at a few key scriptures. So first, Proverbs thirteen twenty talks about how your relationship shapes your walk, and specifically, it says walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. So what does this mean, Well, the people that you surround yourself with will influence you, whether you realize it or not, and not all influence is good influence. And this isn't about being judgmental. It's about being aware. And if you spend time with people who constantly tear down your faith, or tear you down, or dismiss your values, or encourage you to compromise, it's only a matter of time before it starts affecting you. Proverbs four twenty three tells us to guard our heart, where it literally says, above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. And so your heart is the center of your faith. And if you just let anything or anyone in without discernment. It will shape your thoughts, your choices, and your beliefs. And so this doesn't mean cutting people off at the first sign of struggle, right, But it does mean being intentional about who gets the most access to your heart and mind and being discerning about that. And that's where self image comes in too, because if you're hustling for your worthiness and you just want people to like you, you're going to have low standards and you're not going to feel strong enough to be intentional about who gets your time and your energy. And so it's about making sure that you know you're not the bad influence on yourself, thinking that you are only worthy of receiving less than you than you're worth. Scripture also tells us that we're called to be in the world, not of the world, where John seventeen fifteen through sixteen it says, my prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. And so Jesus never told us to isolate ourselves. He knew we would be surrounded by people who don't share our faith. But He also prayed that we'd be protected and that we wouldn't let the world pull us away from from our purpose. And so how do we handle these relationships without guilt or fear? And what does this look like practically in real life? As in like, how do you protect your faith while still being in relationship with people who don't share it? So again, just have to say, I'm by no means an expert, but here are my experiences and four key steps that I truly believe will help anyone that's navigating this. Step one is to identify which relationships are helping and which are hurting your faith. And so not every relationship affects you the same way. Right, some people may challenge your face but ultimately respect your beliefs. And then there might be other people that outright mock you or discourage you. And so just ask yourself, do I feel encouraged in my faith after spending time with this person? Or do I feel drained and distant from God? Ask you know, do they respect my beliefs even if they don't share them? Because two things can be true at the same time. You cannot share a belief but respect to belief. Right, asking like am I in fluencing them or are they influencing me? And just really being aware of the impact that certain relationships have on you is the first step in handling them wisely. Okay. Step two is to set healthy boundaries, but without cutting people off unless you need to write, unless you really feel called to. And so here's the thing that took me a while to get. Boundaries are not rejection. They are protection. So let me say that again. Boundaries are not rejection, they're protection. And if a certain conversation keeps leading to arguments about your faith, it's okay to say, like, hey, I'd love for us to respect each other's beliefs and not debate this every time we talk, and not get into this every time we talk if we're not kind of agree to disagree. And so if hanging out with a certain group constantly tempts you to compromise your values, it's okay to start spending less time in those environments. And if somebody is outright, you know, consistently tearing down your faith, it's okay to distance yourself without making it someatic confrontation. I think we think it's got to be this dramatic confrontation, but you're allowed to just distance yourself and not make it a big thing. And listen, sometimes there are relationships that you need to fully step away from. I've had those two. It's painful, they're not easy. Endings are sad, right, But if somebody is toxic and manipulative or pulling you into sin, there's no shame in saying like, hey, I love you, but I can't keep doing this, right. I know, for me, I had to look at it like it's not anti them, it's pro me, Like I had to take a stand for myself. Step three is to let your life speak louder than your words, like let who you are speak louder than your words. And so one of the biggest mistakes that we can make is trying to go you know, air quotes fix or convince people to believe what we believe. And instead of preaching at people, That's where I invite you to live your faith boldly but authentically. Like if your version of bold is just being a stand for who you are and standing in your faith, you know, your version of bold might not be getting up and sharing about it in a podcast or an Instagram post or on a pulpit. Right, It's all about being confident and bold in your faith, but do it in a way that's authentic to you. And so for all my introverts out there, right, you do you? Okay? So when they see your peace, though, when they see you standing in the knowingness of who you are with peace, they're gonna want to know where that peace comes from. And when they see your joy, they're gonna wonder what's different. And when they see you handle struggles with faith rather than going down anxious rabbit holes, they're gonna take notice. Okay. Matthew five sixteen even says let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. And so I've learned this from experience, your life, your energy, how you present yourself, and just the light about you that you walk around with. That is the loudest testimony that you could share. Step four is to just pray for them and trust God with their journey. Right. It's not your responsibility, and so at the end of the day, you're not responsible for changing someone's heart. Only God can do that. And so instead of stressing over their salvation, just pray for them and trust that God is working even if you don't see it yet. And here's my invitation for you. You know, the next time you feel that tension in relationship over faith, just pause and pray and just ask God, like, how do you want me to love this person well while I still stay true and protect my own faith? Right? And when you ask him that question, like, Hey, God, how do you want me to love this person well and still protect my faith? When you ask him, it takes the pressure off of you, at least it does for me. So that's my invitation for you. So here's what I want you to take away today. You don't have to feel guilty for protecting your faith. You're allowed to set boundaries, and not every relationship will be easy, but God will give you wisdom. And some people will respect your faith and some won't, but you can love them well without compromising your beliefs. The other thing is that your life and who you are is your loudest testimony, and so focus on living your faith authentically rather than forcing it on others or at least trying to defend it or get them to see what you are seeing. And also, you don't have to cut everyone out of your life, but you do want to be intentional and discerning about who gets the most influence over your heart and mind and soul and spirit, because at the end of the day, your relationship with God is the most important one that you'll ever have, and protecting that that's not selfish, that in my opinion, is essential. So thank you so much for joining me today on this Ask the God Pod series here on What's God Got to Do with It? And if this episode resonated with you, feel free to just pass it on and share it with somebody who might need that encouragement as well. And if you have a question you want me to tackle, just go ahead and send it my way. And until next time, remember you can love people well without losing yourself in the process. Okay, I hope you got whatever you needed to hear today and I will catch you next week. Bye. We'll be back with more What's God Got to Do with It? But in the meantime, I would definitely love to hear from you, so just tell me where you are in your story or maybe what questions you have, like where do you feel you need clarity or support or wisdom in your own journey. I definitely want to hear from you. So head on over to What's God Got to Do with It dot com and scroll down to the form to share your thoughts, your questions, your feedback, and you can do that instantly. So What's God Got to Do with It dot com You'll find all the ways to do that. And if you like this podcast and want to hear more, go ahead and follow, like, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get your weekly dose of What's God Got to Do with It? New episodes drop every single Tuesday, and while you're there, be sure to rate and review to show your support. It really means so much. What's God Got to Do With It is an iHeartRadio podcast on the Amy Brown Podcast Network. It's written and hosted by me Leanne Ellington, executive produced by Elizabeth Fozzio, post production and editing by Houston Tilley, and original music written by Cheryl Stark and produced by Adam Stark

If you want to go on a journey. If you're skeptical, don't worry. Not here to preach. I'm gonna keep it clean and talk to me and recall where faith needs fars nature, get in touch with your creator with a baking love and jew She even speaks Hebrew. What's that? Gotza? What's that? This? Well sabosation? You should talking transformation? What's that Gonzato? Hey? Hey, and welcome back to What's God got to do with it? And today we're tackling another really important question from one of our listeners, and here is what they asked. They said, I'm trying to grow in my faith, but I have people in my life who don't share my beliefs, and honestly, some of them even pull me away from God. I don't want to be judgmental, but I also don't want to compromise my faith. How do I handle relationships like these? First of all, this is such a great question, and it's a really real question because navigating relationships and faith is not easy because, let's be honest, when you're walking with God, not everyone in your life is going to be on the same journey. And so maybe you have friends who don't understand your faith, or maybe you have family members who challenge your beliefs or even make fun of them. Or maybe you're in a relationship that started out great, but now you feel like it's leading you further from who you want to be. And this is where the tension comes in, right, Because we are called to love people and we're called to be a light in the world, but we're also called to guard our hearts and protect our faith. And so how do we balance that and how do we stay strong in our faith without pushing people away? And how do we set boundaries without feeling like we're judging or rejecting other people? And how do we know when it's time to step back from a relationship completely? And So, again, by no means am I an expert here. I'm on this journey myself. But that's what we're going to unpack today. And so if you've ever struggled with this, or if you've ever felt torn between loving people well and staying firm in your beliefs, then you are in the right place. So grab your tea, your coffee, get cozy, and let's dive on in. So why is this so hard? Like, let's start with that and simply start by acknowledging why this is such a difficult thing to navigate. And so, first, we're wired for connection. You know, God designed us to be in relationships with Him and with others, and so when we feel like our faith is at odds with people that we care about, it creates this deep internal conflict. Second, we don't want to seem judgmental, right, Like, no one wants to be that Christian, right, the one who acts holier than thou or makes people feel like they're not good enough. Right. We've all experienced that in person, I'm sure, and let's be honest, it's not a great color on us, right. And then the third reason this is so hard is because change is uncomfortable. Right when you start growing in your faith, not everyone around you is going to understand it, and some people will support you, but others will question you. And some may even be threatened by your change and what's transforming inside of you because it forces them to reflect on their own choices or they might feel like they're losing you. Right, So there's a number of reasons people can actually feel threatened by it. So let's break all of this down, Like, how do we handle this in a way that honors God, protects our own faith walk, but also so that we can still love people. Well, well, first let's look at what the Bible says about this. And God actually speaks a lot about relationships and how they shape us. So let's look at a few key scriptures. So first, Proverbs thirteen twenty talks about how your relationship shapes your walk, and specifically, it says walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. So what does this mean, Well, the people that you surround yourself with will influence you, whether you realize it or not, and not all influence is good influence. And this isn't about being judgmental. It's about being aware. And if you spend time with people who constantly tear down your faith, or tear you down, or dismiss your values, or encourage you to compromise, it's only a matter of time before it starts affecting you. Proverbs four twenty three tells us to guard our heart, where it literally says, above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. And so your heart is the center of your faith. And if you just let anything or anyone in without discernment. It will shape your thoughts, your choices, and your beliefs. And so this doesn't mean cutting people off at the first sign of struggle, right, But it does mean being intentional about who gets the most access to your heart and mind and being discerning about that. And that's where self image comes in too, because if you're hustling for your worthiness and you just want people to like you, you're going to have low standards and you're not going to feel strong enough to be intentional about who gets your time and your energy. And so it's about making sure that you know you're not the bad influence on yourself, thinking that you are only worthy of receiving less than you than you're worth. Scripture also tells us that we're called to be in the world, not of the world, where John seventeen fifteen through sixteen it says, my prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. And so Jesus never told us to isolate ourselves. He knew we would be surrounded by people who don't share our faith. But He also prayed that we'd be protected and that we wouldn't let the world pull us away from from our purpose. And so how do we handle these relationships without guilt or fear? And what does this look like practically in real life? As in like, how do you protect your faith while still being in relationship with people who don't share it? So again, just have to say, I'm by no means an expert, but here are my experiences and four key steps that I truly believe will help anyone that's navigating this. Step one is to identify which relationships are helping and which are hurting your faith. And so not every relationship affects you the same way. Right, some people may challenge your face but ultimately respect your beliefs. And then there might be other people that outright mock you or discourage you. And so just ask yourself, do I feel encouraged in my faith after spending time with this person? Or do I feel drained and distant from God? Ask you know, do they respect my beliefs even if they don't share them? Because two things can be true at the same time. You cannot share a belief but respect to belief. Right, asking like am I in fluencing them or are they influencing me? And just really being aware of the impact that certain relationships have on you is the first step in handling them wisely. Okay. Step two is to set healthy boundaries, but without cutting people off unless you need to write, unless you really feel called to. And so here's the thing that took me a while to get. Boundaries are not rejection. They are protection. So let me say that again. Boundaries are not rejection, they're protection. And if a certain conversation keeps leading to arguments about your faith, it's okay to say, like, hey, I'd love for us to respect each other's beliefs and not debate this every time we talk, and not get into this every time we talk if we're not kind of agree to disagree. And so if hanging out with a certain group constantly tempts you to compromise your values, it's okay to start spending less time in those environments. And if somebody is outright, you know, consistently tearing down your faith, it's okay to distance yourself without making it someatic confrontation. I think we think it's got to be this dramatic confrontation, but you're allowed to just distance yourself and not make it a big thing. And listen, sometimes there are relationships that you need to fully step away from. I've had those two. It's painful, they're not easy. Endings are sad, right, But if somebody is toxic and manipulative or pulling you into sin, there's no shame in saying like, hey, I love you, but I can't keep doing this, right. I know, for me, I had to look at it like it's not anti them, it's pro me, Like I had to take a stand for myself. Step three is to let your life speak louder than your words, like let who you are speak louder than your words. And so one of the biggest mistakes that we can make is trying to go you know, air quotes fix or convince people to believe what we believe. And instead of preaching at people, That's where I invite you to live your faith boldly but authentically. Like if your version of bold is just being a stand for who you are and standing in your faith, you know, your version of bold might not be getting up and sharing about it in a podcast or an Instagram post or on a pulpit. Right, It's all about being confident and bold in your faith, but do it in a way that's authentic to you. And so for all my introverts out there, right, you do you? Okay? So when they see your peace, though, when they see you standing in the knowingness of who you are with peace, they're gonna want to know where that peace comes from. And when they see your joy, they're gonna wonder what's different. And when they see you handle struggles with faith rather than going down anxious rabbit holes, they're gonna take notice. Okay. Matthew five sixteen even says let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. And so I've learned this from experience, your life, your energy, how you present yourself, and just the light about you that you walk around with. That is the loudest testimony that you could share. Step four is to just pray for them and trust God with their journey. Right. It's not your responsibility, and so at the end of the day, you're not responsible for changing someone's heart. Only God can do that. And so instead of stressing over their salvation, just pray for them and trust that God is working even if you don't see it yet. And here's my invitation for you. You know, the next time you feel that tension in relationship over faith, just pause and pray and just ask God, like, how do you want me to love this person well while I still stay true and protect my own faith? Right? And when you ask him that question, like, Hey, God, how do you want me to love this person well and still protect my faith? When you ask him, it takes the pressure off of you, at least it does for me. So that's my invitation for you. So here's what I want you to take away today. You don't have to feel guilty for protecting your faith. You're allowed to set boundaries, and not every relationship will be easy, but God will give you wisdom. And some people will respect your faith and some won't, but you can love them well without compromising your beliefs. The other thing is that your life and who you are is your loudest testimony, and so focus on living your faith authentically rather than forcing it on others or at least trying to defend it or get them to see what you are seeing. And also, you don't have to cut everyone out of your life, but you do want to be intentional and discerning about who gets the most influence over your heart and mind and soul and spirit, because at the end of the day, your relationship with God is the most important one that you'll ever have, and protecting that that's not selfish, that in my opinion, is essential. So thank you so much for joining me today on this Ask the God Pod series here on What's God Got to Do with It? And if this episode resonated with you, feel free to just pass it on and share it with somebody who might need that encouragement as well. And if you have a question you want me to tackle, just go ahead and send it my way. And until next time, remember you can love people well without losing yourself in the process. Okay, I hope you got whatever you needed to hear today and I will catch you next week. Bye. We'll be back with more What's God Got to Do with It? But in the meantime, I would definitely love to hear from you, so just tell me where you are in your story or maybe what questions you have, like where do you feel you need clarity or support or wisdom in your own journey. I definitely want to hear from you. So head on over to What's God Got to Do with It dot com and scroll down to the form to share your thoughts, your questions, your feedback, and you can do that instantly. So What's God Got to Do with It dot com You'll find all the ways to do that. And if you like this podcast and want to hear more, go ahead and follow, like, and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get your weekly dose of What's God Got to Do with It? New episodes drop every single Tuesday, and while you're there, be sure to rate and review to show your support. It really means so much. What's God Got to Do With It is an iHeartRadio podcast on the Amy Brown Podcast Network. It's written and hosted by me Leanne Ellington, executive produced by Elizabeth Fozzio, post production and editing by Houston Tilley, and original music written by Cheryl Stark and produced by Adam Stark