A friend in need is not always a welcome thing. We have so much to deal with in our own lives that sometimes we don’t want to devote time to others. However, anyone can be there for someone during the best of times, but it takes true friends to be there to help you when you’re down and to help inspire you to get back up.
A few weeks ago I had a friend of mine ask me how things were going. I told him that it was getting a little messy in a certain area of my life, but that I didn’t want to involve him in my junk. He responded back by saying sometimes friends get involved in friend’s junk if it can help them out. He was so true, but I’ve burdened my friend before about somethings and I just didn’t want to spew my garbage and possibly take away some of his joy, so I just kept it to myself. However, my friend was there for me and I knew it. That’s all I needed at the time and I have since resolved that issue and been able to move forward.
Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying:
“I am a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down…”
I can’t tell you how many times I have been in such situations. If it were up to me, I may just throw in the towel and move onto something else. However, knowing that friends have poured time and energy into my life makes quitting an impossibility. During times that I’ve questioned my abilities or actions, I’ve been fortunate to have some great friends bless me and love me.
Have you reached out to a friend in need and encouraged them or offered your time to just be there and listen? Have you felt alone or discouraged and isolated yourself instead of sharing your situation with a friend? Believe it or not--even though I fail at realizing this at times--when you come to a friend and ask them to listen, often you find that they are more blessed by knowing you came to them than you are from their support and encouragement of you. Funny how things work sometimes!
“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.” --author unknown
Recently I was asked to preach at a church service and was really excited to have a chance to share a word of encouragement. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I was lackluster in my presentation and the message fell flat. I knew things didn’t click that day and also knew I was to blame. I wasn’t defeated, but just very disappointed in myself. I later commented on facebook about how I was disappointed that things didn’t go the way I had planned, when a friend replied back and told me to get out of my funk and to trust God, knowing that his word will not deliver void. Of course I knew that already, but I certainly wasn’t showing it in my demeanor. Rather than feel sorry for me or ignore my comment, my friend jumped in and helped to encourage me. I appreciate her for that so much! I wasn’t looking for encouragement nor did I feel like I was in some downward spiral--just beating myself up a bit. However, knowing that someone took the time to reach out to me and share a word of encouragement made a world of difference.
As friends, we are going to face some crappy things others present to us. We may be powerless to do anything, but we can always lend an ear and usually try to be encouraging. We’d want that for ourselves, so we should be ready to provide it as well. Socializing and having a great time with others is a nice way to spend some time, but knowing your true friends and not being afraid to share some junk and be open and honest is part of what we accept when we are in a friendship.
I’m honored and humbled to know the special group of people that I consider to be my friends--those people that have been there for me as well as those that have sought me out in times of need. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Go be a friend and help encourage someone today! You may just be the one person that your friend needs to hear from in order to see something be successful.
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Thanks! It’s so much either to keep going on in life and not tell anyone what is really going on. But, I have learned that friends encourage, challenge, and are there for us through it all!
Crissy: So true! I used to be a very private person and didn’t let anyone into my world. It was a lonely place, but I felt I was strong enough to handle. I still struggle with this sometimes, but to know that God has surrounded me with great friends that are there for me and allow me to be there for them sure has relieved some of the self-imposed burdens from my past. It can be a very freeing thing and actually strengthens my relationships with others when I share things. Thanks for your reply!
dave – i always appreciate your honesty. this is a great post about friendship. would it be ok to share this with my church community? (if so, i’ll probably post a link to here sometime next week).
btw, i was glad to hear you’re involved in planning #ICPNW! too cool :)
Daniel: You are always welcome to share any thoughts from my blog. I put this out there in the hopes that it helps or resonates with someone else. Thanks!