Streams of Comfort

There is a hymn whose second verse contains these words. “Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness, take it to the Lord in prayer.” This hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus”, has reminded the church for several generations that Jesus is not only our Lord but our friend. In John 15:5 Jesus tells the disciples that he no longer calls them servants but friends. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” Jesus laid down everything for us and he now calls friends. So that we would be able to share in his inheritance, eternal life. He states later on in John 15:13, “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Pure friendship preserves, challenges, protects, and sacrifices. And God gives us the gift of friendship with one another. We are excited to write about friendship this month. And if you find yourself lacking friends, or in difficult seasons with friends, or hurt because of friends, we pray that God would comfort you and give you wisdom to walk through those tough circumstances. Friendship sometimes hurts, often changes over time, and can be sacrificial. But it is a good gift from God. We hope that God would give, sustain, and form healthy friendships in your life. Knowing that Jesus is our ultimate friend and he will help us in our friendships with one another.