Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and so does the sweetness of a friend that comes from his earnest counsel. Proverbs 27:9
Within the past several months, I have had the opportunity to embark on not one but two “girl’s trips.” The first was a much-needed refreshing with my Virginia friends, and the most recent was with two ladies from my college dental hygiene class. I realize girl trips are every day now, but I had never experienced the adventure of one until this year and discovered I have been missing out! My most recent trip with my hygiene colleagues was unique because we had not seen each other in over forty years. Many folks asked me if I was nervous about spending so much time with folks I hadn’t seen or communicated with besides Facebook in so long, and I can honestly say I was not nervous at all. I suppose I should have been anxious, considering almost a whole lifetime has passed since we last spoke or saw each other. Instead, I anticipated a familiar, tensionless, fun, and supportive reunion because we were friends no matter how much time had elapsed. And I was not disappointed because it was all that and more. It was as if we had never been apart, and it was a sweet, wonderful reunion. We laughed, we ate, we reminisced, and we made new memories. It was a testament to the enduring power of friendship.
In the book of John, Jesus refers to himself as our friend. “No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). Because Jesus describes Himself as our friend, that means friendship is not optional as a Christian. Jesus is our greatest friend, and sometimes, because of life’s commitments and messiness, it may seem like He is our only friend, but that is not His design for our lives. Jesus demonstrated and taught our human need for communion and friendship throughout the Gospels. Living in communion with the Father and one another in love is the meaning of life on this earth. We are not designed to do life alone; we need friends. That is why friendship is not an extra; it is essential.
Healthy friendships remind us of and should mirror our friendship with Jesus. Friends help us to remember that we are not alone. God promises us that we are never alone, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed” (Deut 31:8). Friendships empathize with our struggles and invite transparency mirroring our experience with God through prayer. As Jesus accepted us while we were still sinners, true friends do not allow the sum of our mistakes or weaknesses to define us. They encourage us to rise above the failures, see ourselves as children of God, be made holy through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and welcome sanctification and growth. “For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time” (Hebrews 10:10). Genuine friendship demonstrates that I am acceptable and loved and not a burden despite life’s circumstances surrounding me. “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28). God gives good gifts, and our earthly friendships reflect this truth. God knows what will bless us, and He gives us to one another to come alongside each other to be a blessing. Lastly, I am reminded that when humanity turns towards Jesus, even when they have spent a lifetime apart, it will be a sweet reunion that is familiar, comforting, tensionless, and redemptive, just like my recent reunion in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina. Give praise for the gift of friendship and the friends God has brought into your life. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.