The Friend I Want to Be

In normal times, I teach a group of high school girls at church every Sunday and I love it so much. Of course, these aren’t normal times, so I’m missing these funny and sassy and inquisitive teens.  I miss their questions that I can’t answer. I’m not that great at thinking on my feet but these girls… They really keep me on my toes.

Several months ago we began talking about Moses and the Exodus of the Israelite people. These are stories I’ve heard for over forty years and most of these girls can recite them as well. That’s what happens when you grow up in the church – you know all the stories yet because you’ve heard them all your life, they become boring and rote.

I’m praying God shows all of us some new things in His Word this year.

I’ve been struck, though, by a few truths lately. These truths pertain to friendship and what it means to be a good friend to those around us. Here are some traits of the friend I want to be:

1. Encouraging: In Exodus chapter 14, we find the Israelites running from the Egyptian army. God has brought them out of slavery and is using Moses to lead them to a better land, but suddenly they find  themselves at the edge of the Red Sea. With a wall of water before them and the entire Egyptian army behind them, they begin to panic. I get it! Wouldn’t you feel the same way? But look what Moses says in Exodus 14:13. “Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.”  Moses is not only encouraging the Israelite people, he is talking them down off the ledge. Do you have a friend who can talk you down when you’re in a panic? Are you a friend who calms others? That’s what I want to be.
2. Helper: In Exodus 17, the Israelites are being attacked by a tribe called the Amalekites, and Moses tells his assistant Joshua to take some men and go fight. He promises to stand on the hill, holding up his staff and that as long as he is holding the staff, the Israelites will win the battle. Moses does as he says, but his arms eventually grow tired and his legs become weak. After all, he’s only human. When he lowers the staff for a rest, however, the Israelites begin losing the battle. So, guess what happened? Two men, Aaron and Hur, find a large rock for Moses to sit on and they hold up his arms so the Israelites could win the war. They knew Moses couldn’t hold his arms up by himself – he needed help. So they helped him. Are you a helper by nature? Because I’m not, really. Sometimes I feel dumb, offering help. I mean, really, what do I have to offer? But often people might just need a meal or a shoulder to cry on or errands run. And I can do all of those things. Who can you help today?
3. Faith-filled: I love the story found in Luke Chapter 5. A few men had a friend who was paralyzed. They heard that Jesus was teaching in a local home so they decided to carry their friend on his bed to Jesus so that he might be healed. Well, they get to the house and guess what? The house is full of people and they can’t get to Jesus. But instead of just trudging home despondently, they decide to carry this man, on his bed, to the roof of the house. Then they proceed to take off part of the roof and somehow lower this man down into the house right in front of Jesus, who healed him, not only physically but also spiritually. Those friends had guts. And faith. And the reality is – that man may never have been healed if it weren’t for those friends. I want to have faith for my friends who are low on hope. I want to carry them when they can’t walk on their own anymore, when they’ve been knocked down by life’s hardships or paralyzed with fear. Who can you share your faith with today?

This week I want to be an encouraging, faith-filled, helpful friend to those around me. What about you? Let me know how you were a friend to someone this week!