Need A Friend?

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." ~Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)



Everyone needs a friend. Someone we can turn to when our world is falling apart. Someone to listen when we're trying to wade through our thoughts and feelings. Someone to share our joys and triumphs.



Relationships with other people can be tricky, and it's no different when it comes to friendship. It's not easy to develop a high level of trust and comfort. At least it's not for me.



And once that fragile trust has been compromised by betrayal, it's hard to ever trust again, especially when we've laid our heart on the line.



But there is Someone who will never betray you, never let you down, and will always be there 24/7.



Jesus.



The old hymn says it best.



"What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry ev'rything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry ev'rything to God in prayer!



Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.



Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He'll take and shield thee; thou will find a solace there.



Here are some more verses on friendship with God for you to meditate on:



The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. ~Exodus 33:11a (NIV)



A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than brother. ~Proverbs 18:24 (NIV)



"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other." ~John 15:12-17 (NIV)



Only through friendship with Jesus, who seeks us out, can we befriend others in His command to love each other.



Heavenly Father,



Thank You for choosing to befriend us. We know that our relationship with You is all because of You, and not through anything that we have done. Thank You for the supreme example of love and friendship in action that is ours in Christ. May we follow in His steps of love and mercy in our relationships with others. Thank You for the ability to converse with You through prayer. Forgive us for not speaking with You as often as we should, for seeking Your hand before we seek Your face, for abusing our friendship with You. Thank You for laying down Your life for us. Help us Lord as we seek to live out Your command to love one another.



In Jesus' Name,

Amen