When five besties are coordinating busy schedules, finding a date everyone can get together is tricky. But friendship is always worth the effort, and we were downright giddy to be celebrating not one but two of our group members’ birthdays. No one even cared that our party was a month late.
We planned an unhurried dinner at one of our homes, which allowed us plenty of space and privacy. It was the perfect decision. While a delicious meal is something to look forward to, we were hungrier for catching up and conversation.
Eventually we got to the hard stuff.
One of our five was swirling in multiple layers of heartache, and the “flaming arrows of the evil one” were many and mean (Ephesians 6:16b NASB). This precious friend loves and serves Jesus, but in this season, she was really struggling — and hurting all the more because people she loves were also hurting. She wasn’t wrestling with unbelief or doubt, but with the kind of despair and ugliness that can creep into heart and mind when life isn’t fair.
Sometimes, even people with a vibrant faith grow weary from holding their shield of faith (Ephesians 6:10-17 NASB).
We listened as she shared hurt upon hurt. We allowed her freedom, without judgment, to be honest about her feelings. And we felt her pain as our own.
We also saw her humanity, the natural way a heart responds when it’s wounded, because we’ve all been there. I can’t imagine anyone who hasn’t battled anger, bitterness, resentment, or jealousy when life doubles down on unfairness. We may hate those feelings – and even resist them – but they’re part and parcel of being human in a broken world.
In the middle of a mess, friendship can be a lifeline pointing you back to Jesus. Not trying to fix or minimize our friend’s circumstances, we offered our encouragement and insight. As the others spoke, an image began to form in my mind that had nothing to do with our conversation. I’m not prone to “visions;” in fact, I don’t remember ever having one before. But when there was a pause in the conversation, I blurted it out in one rambly sentence —
Cliffhanger!! Please pop over to (in)courage and continue reading. And, please, DO share your thoughts!
QOTD: What are your favorite deals during Prime Days (on Amazon) or other e-tailers taking advantage of the online traffic?
Among other things I’ve been thinking about, I’ve picked up books, a photo frame, bougie home fragrances, and an amazing hair tonic
that my boss swears delivers what it promises.
