In my younger days I was a needy friend. I expected a lot out of my friendships. Some of that comes with immaturity, and some of it comes from my personality. When I love, I love hard. I now see how it could be suffocating. I believe a lot of this had to do with me looking for a sense of belonging, and the other part of me just wanted someone to cling to. I remember a few times in my life where people just stopped being my friend. No big fight or unresolved drama, just ceased to be friends. This was so hurtful to me. I would wreck my brain with what had gone wrong? What had I done, to push this person away? Why had this happened to me yet again?
Now, when I look back on these events, I no longer feel sadness or rejection. There is a verse that has helped me understand some of these thing.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
I am reminded in this verse that even if i didn't understand the reasons to which a friendship was no longer, God had/has a plan. Sometimes we forget that there is a time and a season for all things. Yes, even friendships. This is not always the case, but many times I can look back on the loss of a certain friendship, and I grew from it. During and after. My world did not implode. I survived.
This in no way means that friends are unimportant. God created us humans to need each other. But our friendships should not replace Him in our lives. We need to make sure we are aware of who should be number one. How many times do we text our friends about a problem before we have even uttered a prayer to our Heavenly Father? Christ should be our go to, our top priority. Are we cultivating our friendship with Christ? Do we talk to Him? Are we reading His letters to us, (the bible)? Do we only bring problems to the table? Are we thanking Him for our blessings? Are we talking about Christ with our friends?
As I am writing this, I am overwhelmed with a sense of comfort. Not only that He has the seasons in His hands, but He is holding me too. Be sure that Christ is involved in all of your friendship. Be grateful for the times you had in the past, and the times you hold now.
To my past friends,
I am sorry I leaned so heavily on you. I now know where my strength comes from. Blessings to you, all my friends, (past and present).
Now, when I look back on these events, I no longer feel sadness or rejection. There is a verse that has helped me understand some of these thing.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
A Time for Everything
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
I am reminded in this verse that even if i didn't understand the reasons to which a friendship was no longer, God had/has a plan. Sometimes we forget that there is a time and a season for all things. Yes, even friendships. This is not always the case, but many times I can look back on the loss of a certain friendship, and I grew from it. During and after. My world did not implode. I survived.
This in no way means that friends are unimportant. God created us humans to need each other. But our friendships should not replace Him in our lives. We need to make sure we are aware of who should be number one. How many times do we text our friends about a problem before we have even uttered a prayer to our Heavenly Father? Christ should be our go to, our top priority. Are we cultivating our friendship with Christ? Do we talk to Him? Are we reading His letters to us, (the bible)? Do we only bring problems to the table? Are we thanking Him for our blessings? Are we talking about Christ with our friends?
As I am writing this, I am overwhelmed with a sense of comfort. Not only that He has the seasons in His hands, but He is holding me too. Be sure that Christ is involved in all of your friendship. Be grateful for the times you had in the past, and the times you hold now.
To my past friends,
I am sorry I leaned so heavily on you. I now know where my strength comes from. Blessings to you, all my friends, (past and present).
