I’m Thankful for my friends

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime

On Day 2 of #30DaysofPraise I am most thankful for the friends God has strategically placed in my life for these past 40 years (still can’t believe I’m writing that number lol). Looking back over the years I can see how each friend contributed to my life and how they helped me grow stronger in my faith. Whether it be because they stood with me in prayer, gave me words of encouragement, prayed for me and my family, cried with me, gave me a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen and a heart to love me right where I was at, they have always been there.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-11
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Oh how I love this verse and how true it is.

I remember a time in my life where all hell was breaking loose. Financially we were struggling, I was homeschooling my daughter, my son had dropped out of school and wanted to go live with his dad in Maryland, my mom had passed away and I felt like the whole world was caving in on me.

One of many breaking points for me was when I got a call that my son had been arrested. Here I was working with the youth in our community trying to show them there is a better way and my son is out hanging with the wrong crowd and gets arrested.

I immediately go into a horrible depression and blame myself for how he turned and what a horrible mom I was.

All I wanted to do was die that night but my husband called my best friend to come over and she didn’t think twice. Her and her husband came right over.

Now I’ll be honest, I was mortified! I didn’t want anyone to see me in this state! I didn’t want anyone to judge me! I didn’t need anyone telling me it was going to be alright! I just wanted to be left alone…to die…to make all the hurt and pain stop!

The love of this very special friend reached through all that turmoil and embraced me. I don’t remember if we prayed that night but I know she went into prayer for me and called all our other prayer warriors to be in prayer.

It didn’t happen immediately but over the next few days God opened my eyes to the love that he has for me and the people he has placed in my life to help hold up my hands in praise to him when all I want to do is run and hide. Sorta of reminds me of the scripture where Aaron and Hur helped Moses hold his arms up so that Joshua could defeat the army of Amalek in battle.

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. Exodus 17:12

This friend, along with the other friends who were praying for me, helped me defeat the spirit of depression and suicide that day. It’s not to say I have not battled with those spirits again but with every battle I get stronger and stronger.

In this time of reflection and thankfulness I have come to realize that it’s God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit that are the ultimate friends. Think about it…God is the one that puts it on the hearts of our friends to pray for us, to call us, to check in on us, but most importantly not to judge but to love us right where we’re at.

HOW AWESOME IS THAT!!!

He knows what we need even before we ask and he sends us friends along the way that deposit the very thing we need into our lives for us to keep on going. <3

I pray today that if you have friends that are there for you in the most darkest times of your life, that pray for you without judgement and gossip, that share in your triumphs and tragedies, hold on to them, cherish them and give God the praise for bringing them into your life.

If you have not found that friendship, call on Jesus today! He’s there waiting to comfort you and to be your friend. I promise he is greater than any friend you’ve ever had or will have and he will send you the PERFECT friends to help hold your arms up in Praise to him.

Y’all Be Blessed,
Audrey