Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Where Are Our Friends?

Sometimes people with chronic illness or pain are mighty lonely people. I'm sure there are those of you out there that live a life of solitude. Like me, you have your families, which I'm thankful for, but women need women friends. That's just all there is to it. This doesn't always happen, though and if we don't learn to accept this, it can bring us down quite low.

I haven't figured out how to cultivate friendships while going through all this so I've had to learn to accept what is. I also know that Jesus is there for me - and you - and He is closer than a brother! He understands what it's like to have His friends turn against him. Peter denied him three times, for goodness sake! We don't know what happened to any of the apostles during the time of His unjust trial and floggings, we only know they fled. At the crucifixion, we are told that John was there but no other apostles were. How disappointing for Jesus to look around and see only one of His apostles.

He understands, then, our loneliness and how hard it is when we look around and see no friends. If we have one friend, we are so blessed, but for those with chronic illness/pain, many times we look around and there isn't even one friend. Except for Jesus.

Jesus is the greatest friend we can have. He loves us more than anyone else. He loves us just as we are. When we don't feel lovable, Jesus loves us. When we feel alone, we're not. Jesus is with us, holding us close and reminding us that He is with us.

I'm blessed because I see Jesus in my husband. That man is a saint, I'm telling you! He has stood by my side through this whole, horrible ordeal. He is always there to listen to me, help me with whatever I need help with, and understands my heart. So many men would have turned and walked away from a situation like this, but not my husband. He has been the hands and feet of Jesus to me over and over, every day.

Even if you don't have a husband like mine, you're still not alone. Jesus is our bridegroom and we are His bride. He understands our heart and collects our tears in a bottle. My bottle must be filled to over-flowing, dear ones! Perhaps yours is, too.

I don't have the answers to the friend situation. I don't know why people move on when you're hurting, but they do. It's just human nature, I suppose. However, we must not lose sight of Who is truly there for us, through thick and thin. Jesus...our Brother, our King, our Savior!

A man with many friends may be harmed,
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24 (HCSB)

God bless you - Julie


  1. bless you for sharing this, love you.

  2. You know what Julie? This could have been written by me. I have one friend I have seen two years ago. It is because of distance. But all my "friends" are online. It IS very lonely. I have a wonderful husband and my family. But I agree with you. It would be so very nice to be with a friend. I have been very low over this in the past. I have learned to accept it. I have prayed and turned to God so very much more because of this.

