Being Intentional: Who is in your circle?

So let’s talk about it. Who’s in your circle? Are you one of those people yelling “no new friends”? Or do you typically call everyone your bestie/BFF? Or maybe you are in the space where you are questioning if you have any true friends?

We are all at different stages in our lives and have developed many different relationships with people over time. But whowe have in our circle is super important. Friends are the family members that we get to choose, and they play a pivotal role in our lives. Typically, the people in your circle are the closest to you, sometimes family, sometimes not. These people know all about you and you spend a lot of time with them. The people in your circle are meant to love you but also tell you when you are wrong. We want honest people who genuinely want the best for us in our circle. With them, we are always our true, authentic selves. Not only that, but true friends also support, encourage, and correct you in love. They help us put things into perspective when our vision is clouded with doubt and sadness. They are with us when we are up and when we are down.

There are times when life gets hard, REAL hard. Speaking from experience, there have been situations in my life where the burden was just too heavy, the problem seemed too big, and my spirit was overwhelmed. In those moments, I needed “my people”.

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:16

The story of Jesus healing the paralytic man is a great example of good friendship.

A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2: 1-5

The paralytic man was weak physically. His friends knew that he needed to get in the presence of Jesus to receive healing, but he couldn’t do it alone. One definition of paralyses is the state of powerlessness or incapacity to act. Sometimes life brings us to moments where we feel stagnant or hopeless. In these moments our faith is weak. In the story, the room was so crowded because everyone wanted to get access to Jesus, because they knew that was where they would find their healing. Near Jesus is where hope is found. There have been times where life had me doubting God’s plan for my life. But because of my circle, they were able to help me return to the place that my hope is found. This circle reminds me of what God says in his word and who God says that I am. When Jesus saw their faith, the man was healed, and his sins were forgiven. This is why the word says where two or three are gathered in His name, he is among them. (Matthew 18:20) Who is in your circle can have a direct effect on the outcome of your situation. Their faith can cause the miracle to happen. Their faith can move God’s hand. Don’t underestimate the power of praying friends!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

With so many social media sites now, it’s easy to misuse the word friend. On most social media outlets, anyone you follow is considered a friend. But a true friend is not someone who you follow from a distance or someone you simply see their highlights and shareable quotes. Instead, we need people we are doing life with. Life is meant to be done with others because when we live in solitude, we are easily tempted by the enemy.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

I thank God for my sister-friends because we encourage each other, we pray for each other, we study God’s word together, and we have a good time. We don’t just need friends to travel and have brunch with. Yes, those things are enjoyable, but most of our lives are not from mountain top to mountain top. In fact, we spend a fair amount of time in the valley and climbing the mountain. In those moments, is when we really need our tribe. Our circle. Our circle sees and notices things about us that other’s don’t. We trust them with our deepest darkest secrets because we trust that they won’t hurt us.

I read another article that mentioned good friendships are self- sacrificing and life-transforming. This is exactly what we should see in our relationship with Christ. God sacrificed himself for us and in return we give our lives to him. Our relationship with Christ transforms how we live. Because of what he has done for others, we are able to do the same for others.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends John 12:12-13

Jesus is our friend. He sets the perfect example of what it means to be a friend.

One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Friendships are important. Be intentional. And sometimes season change, and the people who were once in your inner circle may begin to shift. That doesn’t necessarily make them or you a bad person, it just means that this season is different. We should always move in love and stay in tune with where the Holy Spirit is taking us. Childhood friends may continue on to be good friends in adulthood, but sometimes those “new” friends are exactly what you need.

How is in your circle?🤎