I recently made a big move back from my university country to my home country. I had been living away from home for seven years. It was not as dire as it sounds – despite not being easy: my only consideration was the mental load of the quick and unexpected change. For my homecoming, I did not expect much from anyone. I thought I would come home without much ado. However, I was mistaken.
My friends, both at home and abroad, showed up in great numbers. A friend of mine booked a last-minute flight to see me; another took a bus ride to spend three days at my apartment. People organized dinners, came home to help me pack my many things, and sat with me even when I didn’t offer much comfort. At no point within those two months of moving countries did I feel alone. It was one way I can testify that the Lord saw me, even when it felt like I had been forgotten or He was simply not around. My community rallied.
God Gives Community
Through this season and others, I have understood that the Lord gave us community to hold each other up. This can mean many different things: you can show up for someone financially, physically, emotionally, among others. I have learned over the years that just as God is a Father and Friend who loves me and my imperfections, my friends can and should be graced to handle every part of me and help me be better. I should be able to trust them with both my wrongs and my salvation.
The Lord supports community, and the Bible speaks about friendship. Jesus is our friend (John 15:12-15). Jesus modeled keeping friends around Him, even when they disappointed Him or ‘fell short’: such as Peter and his denial of Jesus (Luke 22:31-34 & 54-62). We see the example of Jonathan and David. The Bible says Jonathan “loved [David] as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1-4). We are told that:
“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
Elizabeth and Mary supported each other in their impossibilities (Luke 1:39-45); Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walked into the fire together (Daniel 3:8-30). Ruth stood by Naomi when it made no sense to: But Ruth said:
“Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, And there will I be buried. The LORD do so to me, and more also, If anything but death parts you and me.”” (Ruth 1:16-17 NKJV)
A Prayer for Godly Friendship
I pray that we all find true friendships ordained and destined by God. My prayer is that our communities are safe places for genuine connection and accountability, and that Christ is the center, as He should be wherever we find ourselves. I pray that we are good friends ourselves. I pray that He guides you and that, at the forefront, you are reminded that He wants what is best for you – even in friendship. We are all worthy of love in community. Jesus is our evidence. Amen.
