When Our Heart Aches for a Friend

My heart aches for a friend in Texas, going through so many trials she probably feels like Job. In tough times we are all tempted to shut down. Close in on ourselves. Turn away from the pain – our own or that of our friend’s. I’ve been guilty of both.

But to live and love well, to make a difference and grow into all we were destined to become, we must make the difficult choice to open our hearts. Even if it is just one petal at a time.

Is someone you know going through hard times? Sickness? Financial loss? Grief? Or maybe it’s you who’s feeling alone? The good news in the midst of it all; God is in the room. With us. With our friend.

In my own life, I can see how the worst trials drew me into an intimacy with Jesus I didn’t have before my world went dark. It was there He met me; not as “a crutch” or a character in a book, but a living, present Friend, unafraid of my pain. It was those painful places that made me useful. Yet, today I had to be reminded to trust Him with my hurting friend.

When our heart aches for a friend, we must remember that God is BIGGER than our problems. Wherever we are, we have an opportunity to be useful. To be a blessing to someone else. Even from our hospital beds.

And while they’re going through, we stay in touch. We check in. We send care packages: encouragements, treats, bits of faith, and comfort.

We pray. Hard and often. Alone and together. We ask faithful friends to lock spiritual elbows with us, agreeing in prayer for the good plan God has for the life of our friend.

We find comfort in knowing He works all things together for the good for those who love Him. We gather courage in remembering He never promised life down here would be easy, but that He would be with us through all of it. Forever.

And for today, that is all we need to know.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. ~ Romans 8:28 NLT

Amen.

Question: How do you offer encouragement when your heart aches for your friend? How have you seen God make you useful by allowing you to go through trials?