Our Forever Friend
A devotional by Alexis A. Goring
Recently, I re-read a mini-devotional thought
that is located within a sidebar on the pages of my True Identity Bible, published by Zondervan.
The title of the mini-devotional thought is
“At Issue: Loneliness.”
Here is what I read:
“In the
beloved book Anne of Green Gables, Anne
longs for a “bosom friend.” Can you relate? Unfortunately, most of us have
known the pain at times of not having a close friend. Yet loneliness is not
entirely bad. Painful as it is, loneliness is good when it pushes us to grow
closer to the best friend we’ll ever have—God. No other friendship can compare
to his. He knows and accepts us completely. He is right there with us, always.
In the good times we take our friend for granted. In the bad times we realize
we need him – and he’s right there.”
Though I’ve read the devotional countless
times before, this time that I re-read it really struck a chord with me.
Finally, it dawned on me that I already have the best kind of friend anyone can
have, his name is Jesus Christ and He loves humankind with His life! Read John
3:16-17 in a Bible.
Yes, I know the pain of feeling left out. Not
having a best friend here on Earth (as in a fellow human who is your forever
friend). Not having the “Maid of Honor” experience in my best friend’s wedding
(if I had a best friend). Not being a bridesmaid several times over in all of
my close friends’ weddings. Not having as Anne of Green Gables called it, a
“bosom friend.”
But, I do also know the unexplainable JOY
that comes when Jesus Christ is your best friend for life! Literally. His
friendship will never fade. He will be your best friend here on Earth and in
Heaven, forever (literally again)!
And that truth brings me hope. It also gives
me a fresh perspective. Because it can be so easy for us – especially females –
because of the culture that we live in, to feel left out if our social lives
don’t look like what we see on TV, at the movies and on social media.
But just because you see those worldly
standards for friendships all around you, you don’t have to believe that those
representations of life are how your life should look. You don’t have to
subscribe to worldly standards of living.
Yes, it’s great to be included. Yes, it’s
great to have a best friend or a circle of close friends. Yes, it’s wonderful
if God blessed you with one special bosom friend like Anne of Green Gables had
in Diana.
But if you do not have that yet then don’t worry about it; pray about it!
Trust God to bring the people into your life
who need to be there. And if He blesses you with a “bosom friend” or a
close-knit, healthy circle of friends then praise Him! But don’t forget to
cultivate your relationship with the one
friend who will NEVER leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)…Yes, that friend is Jesus Christ!
I hope that this devotional has encouraged
your heart! In closing, I’d like for you to listen to this song,
“Forever Yours,” by Wintley Phipps.
God bless you!
Love,
Alexis A. Goring
~*~
Author Bio (short): Alexis A. Goring is a
passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative
Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will
connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.