Thankful for Friendships
Our family just returned from a super fun weekend camping with two other couples. We laughed, talked, and enjoyed long bike rides. We laughed hysterically at the golf cart and pet parades. We stayed up late sharing around a campfire and roasted marshmallows. Our kids played flashlight tag and cops and robbers and our families made lifetime memories.
A wave of sadness flooded me as we packed up camp and towed our campers back to reality. It wasn’t that long ago that I used to plead with God for friends. Sure, I had acquaintances but I was missing that close connection with girlfriends. This dry valley lasted for several years. An all-time low occurred when I was pregnant with my first baby and realized I didn’t have enough friends to have a baby shower.
In those times of feeling without friends, the Lord himself showered me with friendship. He taught me to rely on Him and trust in His ultimate and perfect friendship. Proverbs 18:24 reminds us that we have a friend who sticks closer than a brother and John 15:15 reminds us that Jesus calls us a friend. Second, the Lord did answer my many years of prayers by providing several close girlfriends. We often get together at each other’s houses and go out to dinner. Those friendships have blessed me in many ways. I know I can count on each one of them at all times, and they can count on me.
What about you? Do you have a favorite girlfriend? Or are you in a valley feeling lonely without friends in your life? When I am downtrodden and feeling alone I try and cling to the truth that Jesus is always my friend and will never fail. And because His word is truth, that same promise applies to you. If you’re lonely and praying for God to send friendships to you, believe that he will and in the waiting time, hang on to His word. He will not let you down!
Dear Lord, Thank you for the precious friends you have blessed me with. I cherish each and every one of them. Lord, I pray for those who are lonely today and ask that You come beside them and be their friend. Please place people in their lives who can encourage them and uplift them. In Jesus sweet and mighty name, Amen.
In Christ Alone,
Dana
So true Dana, if we feel lonely and do not have someone close to us, Jesus is always there. I am thankful for the friends God has placed in my life.
Thank you for sharing from your heart and your encouragement.
Amen Dana.. I am richly blessed by my many friends here in our online community of believers. Who woulda thunk it that I would love and care so deeply for others I have not met face-to-face. It’s a God thing. Great post. Hugs.
I had lunch with my sweet “forever friend” yesterday. We get together most weeks for lunch. I’ll miss those lunches when we move from here.
Like Lynn said I’m also thankful for our online community of friends.
Oh Dana, what a great post! As a Pastors wife, I am surrounded by girlfriends but yet sometimes only the presence of my Lord can fill the void of lonliness that sometimes I feel. I am so thankful for my girlfriends that make me laugh and for my web soul-sisters that encourage me, but theres just something about my friend Jesus! 🙂
Hi Dana, I have been blessed with many friends at different times in my life. It is as though God knew what I needed at the time and sent them. I have such fond memories but I think that the best friends are those that we laugh with. No matter how old we are, we can still be silly sometimes.
Andie
Amen to that prayer Dana. I’m so grateful for the friends He has placed in my life and I’m forever grateful that I can call Him friend. Thanks for sharing your lovely time with your friends with us.