Friends- Michael W Smith & Amy Grant

A timeless song and this video is sung by my "music rock stars". It has been a song near and dear to my heart since middle school.  When I first experienced true struggle I was blessed with a couple of true friends.  Those friends who sent snail mail, gifts {Pictures of teen heart throbs} and encouragement from 2 states away.  More importantly, they listened, they prayed and they didn't let the circumstances of my life around me dictate their friendship.



Friendship is really what makes life possible.  The older I get... the more I struggle with life... the more I see the value in the friendships God has placed in my life.  It is a common theme that the Lord gives me access to friends long before we know we are going to struggle.  He knows who will walk alongside us in the next phase of life.  He prepares the road long before it gets bumpy.  He sees the bigger picture and prepares me by offering friends to be the hands and feet of Jesus.



But am I that kind of friend?  Do I walk side by side with friends?  Sometimes I struggle to let down my protective wall.  Sometimes I am anxious to jump into someone's struggle because I don't feel adequate.  What time and experience has taught me is that no words are needed when I walk a hard road with a friend.  Most of the time is more valuable to simply be there.  So that is the kind of friend I pray I can be.  Someone, who isn't afraid to sit in the silence with you... Someone who will go the extra mile.  I want to love others well.

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But as much as I want to be there, I have to remember that I am not perfect.  The Perfect One is the God of comfort, the One to offer true encouragement, the Wisdom that my friends need.  I will need to rely on Him if I am going to live out the gospel for those God has given me.  My friends need Jesus.  They need to know the strength of my God.  I must rely on His strength because without Him,  I cannot be who they need me to be.  Let's face it, they really don't need me, they need Him.  So as I begin this day, I pray that I can walk the hard roads knowing that He will be the one they need.  

With the faith and love God's given

Springing from the hope we know

We will pray the joy you'll live in

Is the strength that now you show

But we'll keep you close as always

It won't even seem you've gone

'Cause our hearts in big and small ways

Will keep the love that keeps us strong