"A friend in need is a friend indeed."
I'm thankful to have good friends, but to have an "indeed friend" is a special blessing. During a very dark time in my life, one such friend was willing to take up that calling of being the friend indeed. This type of friend was willing to take my phone calls in the early hours of the morning because I was "in need." She was willing to pray for me when I felt I was "all prayed out." Somehow, this friend would endure listening to my emotional, disjointed words, and then assure me that God was still working or remind me that by God's grace, I would get through this. Even though I constantly called out to the Lord and searched His word for help, sometimes, I needed to hear His voice through human words. So, when again, I would start my calls by saying, “Hi, it’s me. I just needed someone to talk to . . . “, my "indeed friend" would convince me that she was glad I called and that I was in no way being a bother to her--again.
It's been decades since that dark time of need in my life, and many times since, I've reflected on what a blessing it was to have that type of friend who was willing to walk with me through the suffering. I wondered if others had such a friend. The Lord began to impress upon my heart that I needed to be that "friend indeed" to others who may be feeling as if the darkness will never loosen its grip. The Lord continues to remind me to be sensitive to the broken lives around me. He prompts me to be the one to reach out first--call, text, email, or just tell the person, "If you ever want to talk, please contact me." Then, I need to follow up by making that first, "Hi, I have been thinking about you. How are you doing?"
My "indeed friend" showed me that I don't need to have a solution verse or a fix-it sermon because just a simple "I know this is so hard for you . . . " or a "My heart aches for you . . ." is enough of an ointment. I could never find enough words to thank my "friend in need" for the way she lifted me up in prayer and helped me bottle my tears, but I can strive to model her type of friendship with others. Perhaps if more believers would actively choose to be that friend who is there in a person's time of need, there will be many others who, when counting life’s blessings, will be thanking the Lord for their "friend indeed."
My dear friend...
Lisa and her husband, David, live in balmy Palm Bay, Florida. She loves teaching kids of all ages and serving in her church where her husband pastors Grace Bible Church, as well as any place God takes her. Lisa shares:“I’m just a wife, mother, and grandmother who wants to walk with the Lord in the light of His word and finds great pleasure when family and friends want to come along!"
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