Faith and Friendship
A friend is someone who understands your past, believes in your future, and accepts you just the way you are.- unknown. I've been praying for clarification about how to have Godly friendships in this new phase of life, and to give me discernment about how to use my faith to help them.
In the past, I’ve found myself in friendships that didn’t benefit me, wondering why I felt unfulfilled by them. I had to deal with jealousy, insecurities and intimidation which became mentally, physically, and emotionally taxing. While friendships are hard to navigate, I have 3 core values that define friendships for me—trust, communication, and boundaries. These 3 things have been the solid foundation of my new found friendships and have kept me grounded when it comes to being authentically me.
Not too long ago, I had brunch with a group of women. It was your typical brunch, except it wasn’t. There was a shift in conversation that I wasn’t used to and that’s when it clicked for me. These women showed true interest in each other without the aforementioned jealousy, insecurities, and intimidation. They praised each other on their current and upcoming goals, and most importantly, they wanted to know how they could show up and support that woman in her aspirations.
At that moment, I reflected on my current friendships. Do we hold each other accountable or are we just having a good time, eating and taking pictures? Is this friendship bringing me any substance? Are we talking about God, or lifting each other up in Christ? I can only answer yes to a few of those questions, and that presents a problem.
Majority of my friend groups are divided based on shared interests, but I still felt that something was missing. My heart desired God-ordain friendships. Women who see my potential in Christ, and encourage me to use my gifts for the Kingdom. Women who see my heart posture and character and KNOW that I’m a daughter of Christ.
God heard my prayers and aligned me with one of my best friends. Through our friendship, I’ve gained many more connections to women in Christ than I could have imagined. We share a special bond in the Sisterhood of Christ that allows us to pray together, worship, hold each other accountable, and provide a safe space to be vulnerable about the work we are doing for Christ and in our daily lives. Because let’s be honest, it’s not always easy!
Now, I can finally say that I have found the missing puzzle piece in friendships. God ordained friendships are easy and FUN! God has blessed me with amazing women, and I am honored to do life and live out my faith with them!
