I'll Be Your Best Friend

Do you remember those grade school days when you implored someone to tell their secret or invite you to their party or help you with your homework? “I’ll be your best friend,” was the ultimate offer to pay for their favor. Depending on how badly the other person needed friends, you might have had your request granted. But often—not. That particular tactic engendered lots of disappointment.

If you are older than, say, six years old, you have undoubtedly suffered disappointment in one relationship or another. The friend proved selfish or disloyal. A neighbor was careless or unkind. A family member on whom you depended did not come through for you. A child was ungrateful; a spouse did not meet your expectations. We all feel keenly disappointed when these friends fail us. We want and need a bunch of best friends whom we can trust completely—or a handful, at least. Okay then, one?

Good news! There is a friend, and only one, who will not fail.

You didn’t have wise parenting? God said, “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15 NLT)

You didn’t have the brother/sister support you needed? “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24 NIV)

Your marriage is rocky or you are all alone? "Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the [spiritual] children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband," says the LORD. “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. For your Maker is your husband—the LORD Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.” (Isaiah 54:1, 4, 5 NIV)

Your neighbor or business associate was unreliable? “God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5, 6 NLT)

None of this is to say that we shouldn’t be working to improve our human relationships, because we should. But open yourself wide to hear the voice of God our heavenly Father, Jesus who calls us friends, and the Holy Spirit who is the Comforter saying to you, “I’ll be your best friend.”

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the New International Bible, used by permission.

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com