ISN’T IT GOOD TO KNOW THAT YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND?

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

MEDITATION:
Many people today are suffering from all kinds of problems.
Most of the issues they are facing 
are due to a lack of a relationship with the Lord.
They may know about Him, read the Bible, quote scriptures and go to church
however, they still do not have that intimate fellowship with the Lord.

We know that the Lord is steadfast and doesn’t move, 
so it is up to man to seek Him and move in His direction.
You might ask, 
“How is a relationship with the Lord going to resolve my situation?”
The answer is, “Your situation may not receive a quick resolution, 
however you will have the presence of the Lord to help you through it”.

That brings us to one of the issues that can drag us down, 
possibly into depression.
Many are trying to cope with loneliness 
and have a desire for a close friend.
They may have many acquaintances, 
but do not have anyone they consider to be a close, trustworthy friend.

God did not create us to live a life of miserable inner loneliness.
In the Garden of Eden, 
God Himself came down to prevent the man He created from being lonely.
Jesus told us that He is
“with us always, even until the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
He came to restore the lost fellowship between God and man, 
and to take away the human loneliness.

It is important for us to have a close friend 
and it is equally important for us to be a close friend to others.
A close friend is someone we can trust, laugh with, share concerns with, 
do not have to ‘put on a front’ with, who knows us, can sense when something
is wrong, cares about us, is dependable, will be there for us when we need 
someone, does things to help us, etc. etc.

So, we need to never overlook our close friends 
and we should appreciate them at all times.
Even when they say or do things that irritate us or make us uncomfortable, 
we should never lose sight of their deep friendship that lies
beneath the service of the trivial things that might upset us.

They give us “wiggle room” for the things we do that they don’t like, 
so we should return the favor and allow them 
to have some room for their idiosyncrasies.
We all want things our own way, 
but friends allow each other room to be themselves.
That’s what friends do for each other, if they are true friends.
Jesus can be your friend if you will actively seek Him.

The scriptures also warn us to beware of the influence of group dynamics.
There are some things we might not do by ourselves or with a friend or two,
but when we are in a larger group, we do not restrain ourselves as much.
It is too easy to try to “outdo” what the others are doing.

ACTION:
Perhaps you are experiencing a time of loneliness right now.
You may be desperate for that one true friend you can enjoy and appreciate.
While you are waiting, 
never forget that Jesus Christ can be your companion and friend.

He has the capability of taking away the loneliness from you soul.
But don’t forget, you need to seek Him where He is 
and not necessarily where you want Him to be.
To get close to Him and enjoy His friendship requires action on your part.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for knowing the loneliness we have in our souls. 
Thank You for showing us in Your Word, that it is not part of Your plan for 
us to experience loneliness. If loneliness is not in Your plans, then it 
must be part of the attacks from Satan. Lord, You have the power to defeat 
Him through me. I pray that You would help me seek, find, and draw closer to
You. I know that You can fill all the lonely moments for me and transform 
them into times of incredible delight. Help me to throw aside any 
selfishness that prevents me from finding You and enjoying Your 
companionship.”