Forming relationships with other people often involves standards we learned from the world. The problem with this is that many relationships we see are so toxic and unhealthy that they’re bad for one’s mental health. We’ve all either witnessed the resulting conflict and strife, or directly experienced the stress and anguish of it ourselves. If we’re trapped in such a relationship, acting on God’s Word in this area brings emotional healing.

Toxic relationships are characterized by bitter conflict, violent dissension, and constant bickering. God has plenty to say about their damaging effects; He strongly warns us to avoid this kind of drama. “But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes” (2 Timothy 2:23). We weren’t created to get dragged into pointless quarrels and arguments.

These kinds of negative emotions can afflict marriages, friendships, and any other relationship that affects our lives. They’re harmful to our spirits and our souls. They cause fear, anxiety, and insecurity, and they steal our peace of mind; this isn’t God’s will for us. When we know we’re in a bad place but we’re too weak to do anything about it, He’s ready to deliver us from a bad situation. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NLT).    

It takes courage to leave a bad relationship; however, breaking it off and moving on may be necessary to begin the process of emotional healing. As spirit beings, our souls are where our thoughts, feelings, and emotions reside. We may feel emotionally drained and suffer from a negative self-image because of the situation we’ve just come out of, so our emotions are the area we need to focus on. Receiving God’s unconditional love and acceptance allows Him to minister to our souls. “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, NLT).

Believing in God’s love for us enables us to forgive ourselves and others. Unforgiveness is like a poison that erodes us from the inside and stands in the way of our healing. To forgive is to decide to let go of the painful emotional baggage of hurt, anger, and bitterness that drags us down. “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31, 32). Forgiveness was made available to us when Jesus went to the cross; it’s ours if we choose to receive it. 

God has no limits, and healing can take place anywhere—including in an emotional state that’s deeply affected by an unhappy relationship. There’s no need to suffer unnecessarily. God wants us to experience health and wholeness on every level. Giving Him permission to intervene brings supernatural results that we could never achieve on our own.