To Lament or Rejoice Over An Ended Friendship

I had a friend...a best friend.  Through some difficult circumstances that friendship ended and I was left feeling lonely and sad...not good at all.  Every time that I think about this friend I get feelings of anger, hurt, bitterness, betrayal, loneliness or sadness.  Never good or happy.

At Bible study on Wednesday evening we watched a clip from Beth Moore's Loving Well.  We watched just one of the days, but it was exactly what I needed to hear. 

That friendship that I had was toxic...it was steeped in sin.  It wasn't until that friendship ended that I could truly give my life over to Christ.  That friendship was the cinder block chained to my ankle that just kept dragging me down.  As I examine other friendships I realize that many of them carry the same characteristics, and if I don't try and change them (the friendships, not the friends), they will certainly lead down the same path.

What's more is I am noticing that the more we grow in our faith, the more some people we thought to be dear friends back away from us...which breaks your heart...until you realize that the reason for their distance is because we are becoming stronger in faith and turning our backs on what the world thinks is okay. Then we have to turn to rejoicing, because it means that we are pleasing our Lord! Talk about a blessing!

I still miss the above mentioned friend and wish her a blessed life, but I now realize that that codependant, toxic relationship had to end. And while I still love her, I need to love her from a distance, because if I get too close it could drag me back down to that place where sin was in...and I don't want to go back there.

So remember ladies, that while we are to love everyone with God's love, sometimes we need to do it from a distance and to put a boundary around that relationship so as not to fall into sinful thoughts or actions...and that we can love everyone, testy or foe, with the love that God gives us...because our love may have limits, but God's doesn't!

I am going to try to focus on something that I am thankful for every day this week, and encourage you to do the same. Today, I am so thankful for true God pleasing friendships.  The ones that last a lifetime, that support you, help you to grow in Him, and let you know when they see you straying off the path.  However, I am also so thankful for the friendships that test you...that challenge you to show God's love, and that ultimately teach you so much about yourself, and your faith.  Sometimes, the best lessons are learned the hard way!

Have a blessed evening and week!

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God."

Philippians 1:9-11

NKJV