Examine your difficult relationships. Are there any that are so destructive that you need to consider temporarily or permanently cutting the person off? A relationship can be so toxic that you’re faced with deciding whether to cut it off, either permanently or temporarily. It is an important decision with many ramifications and considerations. If the other person is a friend or acquaintance rather than a spouse or close family member, the decision will be easier.

Here are some indicators that you need to put physical distance between yourself and another person:

• The person is destructive and willing to hurt you or your family members.
• The person is unwilling to listen to your concerns.
• You have tried to set boundaries, but they are consistently violated.
• The person causes you significant distress that interferes with your life, family, marriage, and/or health.
• You believe you have tried to work things out and have done what you could to change your actions and reactions, but nothing has helped.

Cutting off a relationship is never an easy decision. However, at times it can be the only option. You may want to get family support, but if others don’t agree because they don’t see the problem or are a part of the problem, you can do it without their approval. Just remember that you will need to detach from their reactions and opinions.

You can always re-establish a relationship with the person when your boundaries are respected and the person is willing to stop doing destructive things. Remember, though, that someone who is difficult enough to require cutting off the relationship is also going to have to do a lot of work to change. Be careful about believing false promises and giving in to manipulation and guilt.

By Karla Downing
 

Relationship Devotional Prayer

 
God,

Give me wisdom to know when and if I need to cut off a relationship that is destructive to me and/or my family. Help me to know when and if I can safely resume the relationship.

Relationship Devotional Challenge

• Examine your difficult relationships. Are there any that are so destructive that you need to consider temporarily or permanently cutting the person off?

Scripture Meditation

 
Hosea 7:13-16

“Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely. They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds. They slash themselves, appealing to their gods for grain and new wine, but they turn away from me. I trained them and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against me. They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent words. For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt” (NIV).

Hosea 9:15

“Because of all their wickedness in Gilgal, I hated them there. Because of their sinful deeds, I will drive them out of my house. I will no longer love them” (NIV).

God had to cut off his relationship with Israel for a time when it was clearly unworkable and destructive.