All ministers need four faithful friends in their lives in every season. Are you in the middle of a hard season right now?
Maybe you feel trapped in a dead-end job.
You’re battling through tough circumstances in your marriage.
Just graduated and not sure where you’re going next.
Feel like you’re running uphill in ministry.
Can’t seem to catch your breath financially, spiritually or emotionally.
I’ve been there.
But regardless of what type of season I’m in—a frustrating one or a super fruitful one—I’ve learned there are four different people that I need in my life. Four people that I need to learn and grow (and some days survive). And four people I think you need too, in every season.
God knows that we need people. And Jesus shows us how important community is in the story of the paralyzed man in Mark Chapter 2.
Basically Jesus had come to town and everyone wanted to see him #CelebrityStatus. He was preaching in this house and it got so packed that no one else could fit inside, so people started gathering outside to listen or even just catch a glimpse of him.
Then we meet four guys. Four dudes who were carrying their paralyzed friend. These four guys wanted to get their friend to Jesus. Seeing the massive 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.’”
The four faithful friends did absolutely everything they could to bring the paralyzed man to Jesus. And he is healed. How awesome is that?!
Four Faithful Friends We All Need
I only hope that I have four faithful friends like this around me. Who are they? These are the four people we need in our lives at all times:
1. A close friend who loves you and loves Jesus.
We all need friends in our lives, those people we laugh with, cry with and share crazy memories with. But there is a certain type of friend that is different than the others, the friend who loves you, and who loves Jesus enough not only to be there for the good times, but also through the difficult times. The friend who isn’t afraid to tell you the hard truth because they love you enough to do that.
That’s the type of friend we need in our lives at all times, the type of friend who will lead us to Jesus.
A friend to pray for you.
Listen to you.
Cheer you on.
Love on you.
And you do the same for them.
But equally as important, a friend who will challenge you when you’re wrong.
Give you perspective.
