Good Friends Do This!
Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 1 Samuel 23:16 (NIV)
Our Zoom Bible study time is something I can’t live without! We are seniors who care for each other and hold each other accountable for thoughts and actions. There is only honesty and truth shared when we meet. We often get off track with daily life but learning how to live in these difficult days is important. Grace Fox (Mornings with Jesus) and I don’t belong to the same Zoom group…but we could.
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Every Wednesday morning, a dozen friends and I meet on Zoom to discuss the Bible study we’re doing. Afterward, the leader assigns partners, and we share prayer requests and encourage each other in little ways until we meet again the following week.
I consider these women, whose age differences span thirty years, my sisters in faith. Our love for Jesus bonds us. Our Zoom room provides a safe place to be transparent without fear of being judged. We share our wins and losses, assured the others will celebrate our joys and feel our sorrows. Most of all, we commit to encouraging one another’s relationship with Jesus so we can best flourish through thick and thin.
My sisters in faith demonstrated their commitment when a loved one’s death left me feeling devastated. They listened with empathy as I processed my pain and then, one after another, spoke words of comfort before asking Jesus to hold me close to His heart.
They helped me find spiritual strength as I invested time and energy into the life of a local friend caught in a heartbreaking situation. They saw my emotional fatigue and asked Jesus to fill me with wisdom and discernment.
Jonathan did much the same for David. He knew David was scared for his life, so he went out of his way to find him in the wilderness. Then he spoke truth into David’s life to help him regain a right perspective. By doing so, he helped David find strength in God.
That’s what good friends do, right?
FAITH STEP: Who, in Christ, is a sister or brother in faith to you? Reach out and encourage them by Zoom or FaceTime today.
Loving Lord, thank You for teaching us what friendship looks like! Help us love others as You love—with compassion, empathy, and honesty. AMEN.