Joy in Friendship

No matter who we are or how old we are, there is a longing for a friend. Granted, there are those who have been hurt by a friend, betrayed, lied to, or just totally want to withdraw from everyone. But, even in those situations there is that longing for some kind of connectivity.

There are certain people that have come into my life over the years that I remember vividly. I was a minister’s daughter and we moved often. It was difficult on some occasions to make friends, but God was faithful to give me what I needed in each particular place. Many of these people I no longer have contact with but even today, if they called or messaged me, I would want to talk to them. To catch up with our lives and relive memories of the past.

God knew there was joy in friendship. Many bible characters such as David and Paul had close friends. That’s why in Philippians 1 Paul addresses those friends. In the message he says:

3-6 “Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God’s Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.”

There is joy in friendship. How can we share that joy? Be there for your friend. Listen when they have a problem. Listen and be happy when they have something to rejoice about. Do things together. Pray together. Worship together. Find someone who may need a friend and try to build that relationship. Thank God today for your friends. Let them know that you are thankful for them.