Friendship During Loss
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17)
When you are going through a loss, you sorely need positive, encouraging, life-giving friends. Difficult seasons can bring out the worst in us; this includes bitterness, anger, sadness, and selfishness. In those times, we must remember that we weren’t designed to walk through life alone. We were created to thrive in the context of community. Therefore, one of the best things we can do during a difficult season is to gravitate toward our closest, truest friends.
Job attempted to gain encouragement from his friends after he lost everything, but his friends were far from being positive and life-giving. Instead, they were full of condemnation, using their theology as an excuse to tell Job he got what he deserved. Job’s friends thought they knew his heart, but that wasn’t the case at all. From Job Chapter 4, Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.” (Job 4:6-8)
No one can truly know the intention of your heart. You don’t even know that. Scripture clearly states: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Only the Lord truly knows your heart; He is completely aware of why you are going through various circumstances.
Unlike Job, I pray you have godly, encouraging friends who want to encourage you and build you up during a season of loss. As one man said, “A real friend comes in when the whole world goes out.” That’s the kind of friend you want during a time of loss.
Do you have a friend who will stick with you through the hard times? If so, I encourage you to thank God for your friend; then reach out to your friend and express your gratitude for their friendship. However, if you realize that your friends are like Job’s, I encourage you to ask God to bring a true, life-giving friendship into your life. There is nothing better than having good friends in your corner.
When you are going through a loss, you sorely need positive, encouraging, life-giving friends. Difficult seasons can bring out the worst in us; this includes bitterness, anger, sadness, and selfishness. In those times, we must remember that we weren’t designed to walk through life alone. We were created to thrive in the context of community. Therefore, one of the best things we can do during a difficult season is to gravitate toward our closest, truest friends.
Job attempted to gain encouragement from his friends after he lost everything, but his friends were far from being positive and life-giving. Instead, they were full of condemnation, using their theology as an excuse to tell Job he got what he deserved. Job’s friends thought they knew his heart, but that wasn’t the case at all. From Job Chapter 4, Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? “Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.” (Job 4:6-8)
No one can truly know the intention of your heart. You don’t even know that. Scripture clearly states: The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9) Only the Lord truly knows your heart; He is completely aware of why you are going through various circumstances.
Unlike Job, I pray you have godly, encouraging friends who want to encourage you and build you up during a season of loss. As one man said, “A real friend comes in when the whole world goes out.” That’s the kind of friend you want during a time of loss.
Do you have a friend who will stick with you through the hard times? If so, I encourage you to thank God for your friend; then reach out to your friend and express your gratitude for their friendship. However, if you realize that your friends are like Job’s, I encourage you to ask God to bring a true, life-giving friendship into your life. There is nothing better than having good friends in your corner.
Recent
Archive
2024
January
Building Men Over MembershipsActions and WordsPraying in God’s WillA Call to God’s ChurchFalse ProphetsJesus Intercedes for YouAre You Encouraging Others?Strengthening BelieversSalvation Is SimpleCounterfeit TeachingBe Ready for the End Jesus Understands Your PainLooking ForwardCommitting Others To ChristSharing Your StoryTaking the Time To BlessPraying for UnbelieversA Word of BlessingJesus Cares about YouThe PavementAre You Confessed Up To Date?Fighting Self-Sufficiency With PrayerBe Responsible for Your ChildrenJesus Is Standing with You The Promise of the Holy SpiritBe Aligned in PrayerI Am InnocentAligned PrayersPraying with PowerDealing with ProblemsHandling Stress
February
Come and SeeA Childlike FaithDon’t Miss OutWhy Support Israel?Praying For IsraelHow To Honor GodResisting EvilThe Lord Encourages UsJesus Is the AuthorityGod ProvidesLiving Out The Great CommissionMaking SureA Heart of RepentanceSharing Your FaithSubmitting to God’s WillSecure in Your IdentityHow Are You Filled?God Is All-SufficientJesus Is The Only WayPray, Just PrayNo Sin Is Too BigThe Purpose in PainFeed Your FaithStay in Love with JesusIt’s Only JesusRemember Who God IsGifts from the Holy SpiritThis World Is Not Your HomeBe Different
March
Admitting You Are WrongMoney Can’t Buy HappinessMy ConfidenceChanged by Christ Faith and UnderstandingDo Angels Exist?Falling at Jesus’ FeetBorn AgainThe Fullness of JesusExperiencing Christ’s FullnessThe Lord’s ProtectionPraying FriendsA Hand of BlessingBe StillYour Heavenly FatherBlessing Your ChildrenGod Is Our ProviderTime To StopSimply Follow ChristFathers Loving MothersEvery Knee Will BowWhen God Repeats HimselfThe Seven ChurchesTaking Up Your CrossMake Peace With GodGod Gives Free WillGod’s Healing PowerGo All in for ChristAbiding and RestingBelieving God’s WordWhat Hangs In The Balance Of Evangelism?
No Comments