1 Samuel 20:2 (NKJV)
“So Jonathan said to him, ‘By no means! You shall not die! Indeed, my father will do nothing either great or small without first telling me. And why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so!’”

There are several types of relationships, but in the coming devotions, we will examine some indices of deep relationships. It is important to note and accept that relationships operate at different levels of depth, and that’s okay, too.

The first crucial test of a deep relationship is the expectation of full disclosure. As implied in the intro, not all relationships require this. In fact, practicing full disclosure with the wrong person will do more harm than good.

But there must be people to whom you hold back no secrets. There must be people you also know who hold back no secrets from you. As pilgrims, there is safety in having people like this around you.

This was how David and Jonathan operated. David first fled to see Samuel; then, he fled to his friend Jonathan and confided in him (verse 1). Because of the level and depth of trust, he could open up candidly to Jonathan about Saul.

We live in a cosmetic and insecure world. Everyone loves to put on their best face, and our relationships are shrouded in secrets. People smile with us, but we hardly know anything significant about them.

Jonathan thought he had a deep and secure relationship with his father. In fact, he boasted, saying, “My father will do nothing, either great or small, without first telling me.” He was wrong about his father. Saul did not trust him.

Because people have been hurt in the past, they no longer practice full disclosure, even with close friends and family. They prefer to die in silence rather than share their hearts openly. Many actually want to talk, but they don’t know who to trust.

Beloved pilgrim, make sure you have your Jonathan with whom you can share deep stuff. It doesn’t have to be a family member, but it must be someone who is also transparent with you. Blessed are those who enjoy this.