Have you ever prayed, “Lord please just send me one friend who I can talk to, hang out with, laugh, cry, and just have fun with?” I have. I’ve learned that it is so hard to cultivate friendships as I’ve gotten older. It used to be so easy to form friendships when I was a kid. I would just walk up to a girl that I found interesting, or my teacher would partner me up with a girl and we would instantly become best friends.
As an adult, though, I would look a little weird if I walked up to someone and say, “Hey! Let’s go play.” The story of Ruth and Naomi is a beautiful story of how two adult women who under wild circumstances formed a beautiful and long lasting friendship. Ruth knew the risk of what a friendship endured, yet she stayed close and was committed to her friendship with Naomi. WOW! To have a friendship like that!
I also have an awesome girlfriend. We have been through a lot together. We have partied way too much, and have cried on each other’s shoulders and have had a fight or two. I’ve even experienced witnessing her son being born and her coming to know Christ. That is a true friend! She is moved and now lives a few states away, though we call and email as if we were right next door. But what determines a meaningful friendship?
It’s a feeling that when you met her things just clicked. If you have one close friend, consider yourself blessed; if you have two, shout for joy. There have been moments in my life when I have told myself that I have no time to go out and play with friends. Adding a friendship to our lives is just one more thing on our busy plate of life.
Yet, we feel a void from a deeper place in our souls, telling us that we want a friend. I know it’s hard to begin a friendship, let alone keep one. It’s hard to start any relationship, and we try to fill that void with other things. Maybe the first relationship we need to start is with God. We can start praying for a stronger friendship with Him. Once our relationship with God is strengthened, He will be the teacher that sits us by someone that we can play with and forge a life-long relationship.
Memory Verse:
“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
– Proverbs 18: 24 (NIV)
Prayer Prompt:
“Father, I find myself searching for a true friend that encourages me to talk about You. I desire a friend that I can pray with and a friend that allows me to be myself with out judgment. A friend is a gift from You that I need to cherish and take time for. I say that I’m too busy for friendships, including the friendship I share with You. Help me to find the time to strengthen my friendship with you. Also, strengthen my friendship with…”
Contributing Writer:
Tiffany Locke
Spiritual Chick with Wings
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