A few days ago, my friend reached out with a heartfelt apology. She explained that she didn’t want to jeopardize our relationship due to her unavailability. What was her offense? She hadn’t answered my phone call or messaged me back within 24 hours. I asked her why she felt the need to apologize in such a manner. I quickly reminded her that she is a wife, a mother, and has a job. I get being a good friend but the Lord has more pressing priorities in her life right now. My poor friend has been battered by toxic relationships with friends and family, like myself, and most of us! In Christ, managing difficult relationships are a feature and not a bug that we must learn to master. Our need for healthy, primarily Christian friends becomes essential for our replenishment. Healthy friends = survival! Let’s explore ways how healthy friendships can help us persevere with the “hard to love” in our lives.
1. They Give Emotional Support and Stability:
The Christian life is a journey to spiritual maturity. Believing friends who read the Word regularly is a source of stability because the Bible inevitably challenges the reader to engage in self-reflection. This will in turn, fill the reader with a fountain of faith and wisdom to share with a struggling friend. Difficult relationships are physically and mentally exhausting. Having someone who has the stability to be hospitable, reliable, and able to provide constructive feedback is a source of refueling during difficult times.
2. They are Responsible
How many times have you been asked for money, time, or resources from difficult loved ones and you know that more than likely they are in need due to poor stewardship of their own lives? In Christ, we are called to take care of one another, be humble and to carry our own loads (Galatians 6:2-5). Generally, speaking, we are ready to help our friends in times of need and we only burden our friends when there truly is a need. One of the most rewarding things about having an orderly life, is the ability to give charity to others. This could mean taking an emotionally drained friend out to dinner. Perhaps, providing a safe environment to babysit for a burnt out couple who lacks this kind of support.
3. They are Good Patient Listeners
Christians understand that growth and change take time. Folks that have been in Christ for as little as two or three years understand that their present state improved over a time period. Sanctification is a life long endeavor! We understand that no one will ever have it all together. In seasons of trials, and relationship struggles, you will need that solid Christain to act as somewhat of a therapist to get you through! I have been that person for people and have needed this type of support myself from people. Our sensitivity causes us to patiently listen to dear friends in need.
4. They Will Give Good Advice from the Scripture and will Point you to Christ
Coping skills, stress reduction, and balanced perspectives can all are all discussed in the Bible. A believing friend may challenge you to cope by studying how people in the Word like Jesus, Joseph, Jacob, Paul, Hannah, and Hosea endured tremendous grief from loved ones. Jesus’s family members did not believe in him and was betrayed by his friends. Jacob was not his dad’s favorite child, his mother manipulated him, his brother wanted to kill him, his uncle was a con artist, his wives were in competition, and some of his sons sold his favorite son into slavery. Hannah struggled with infertility and was bullied. Hosea was married to a harlot and he was commanded to forgive her offenses. We can be encouraged when studying the lives of the champions of the faith. Christian friends will certainly remind you of how Jesus loved us inspite of our sins. Think about how imperfect Peter was and how gentle Jesus was to him in John 21 when they met up after the resurrection. Gems like this in the Bible should guide our behavior towards the hard to love.
5. They Will Pray for You
James 5:16 instructs us to pray for one another. We need people in our lives that will trust in him at all times, who pour out their hearts before him and believe that God is a refuge for us (Psalm 62:8). The demonstration of faith exercises breaths life into our desperate situations! Say it loud say it proud! We need friends who know how to pray!
Conclusion
Faithful Christian friends are needed to help us through this life. They balance out our difficult relationships and equip us with that we need to push on. We should pray to the Lord for good friends and aim to be this person to those who lack it. We all need refining so that we can be better (Proverbs 27:7). Take inventory of your companions. Look for who you can help, who can you pray for (Proverbs 18:24).
2 responses to “5 Reasons why Christian Friends are Essential for Coping with Difficult Relationships”
Love this article! It definitely gives you a great perspective on friendship and builds a bridge between ourselves, and people of the Bible. It causes you to think “what kind of friends do I have,” and “what kind of friend am I?” The writing is straight to the point with no fluff! I appreciate the scriptures being embedded into the text as well so I can go check for myself. This was, in my opinion, a well thought out and a successful first article! Can’t wait for the next one!
Thank you for your kind words!