Thoughts on Friendship
There is nothing sweeter than a true friendship where one feels safe, secure, loved…a comfortable sense of belonging and mutual appreciation. One of the surest signs of a godly friendship is when trust and vulnerability have been cultivated and this is evidenced by lives shared, souls bared, and hearts cared for in deeply meaningful ways.
In 1 Thessalonians 2 we get a glimpse into the depth of relationship Paul had cultivated with the church in Thessalonica. In verse 8 we read that he loved them so much he wanted “to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” He chose to model vulnerability and humility in sharing real life. This is an encouragement to me to fight against the temptation to hide behind a mask but instead fight for true and deep connection. An open and vulnerable soul is a life lived out loud for God’s glory.
Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one’”. ~ C. S. Lewis
Though it often feels risky, the only way true and deep friendship can blossom is when we are willing to share our lives with others. There are many variations of the lies that keep us silent:
No one else is struggling
They wouldn’t understand anyway
It’s not worth the risk
I’m better off on my own anyway
I’m a special kind of messed up and therefore I deserve to suffer alone
But the Truth is that God created us for community. We are meant to share deeply in safe relationships within the body of Christ. And actually what is most often at the root of the lies that keep us silent is shame and fear. Shame says “If they know that about me then they will know I am bad”. Fear says, “If they know that about me then they will reject me.”
But the Gospel is powerful to uproot all the lies of the enemy. The Truth is no matter what we struggle with, no matter what people think of us, no matter what others might say about us, we are fully loved and accepted by a Savior who paid the price for all we’ve done. Jesus’ death and resurrection have made a way for us to walk in freedom: Free from sin and shame!
Soul-deep sharing is a testimony of the power of the Gospel. This is one way we can encourage others in the body of Christ. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). No wonder the enemy loves to keep us silent and isolated.
Lord, give us grace and courage to share our stories. Help us be willing to take off our masks and share deeply from the heart. May our lives be a testimony of the power of the gospel, a beautiful display of Your grace and mercy at work bringing freedom and transformation.
