Read:

Proverbs 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”

Think:

Have you ever come across those murder mysteries that grip you from the very first five minutes? It's as if those initial moments are the key to the entire experience. Missing out on those critical first few minutes can leave you feeling lost, right? It's almost as though we've been conditioned to believe that if we don't catch the beginning, we might as well not bother at all.

It's akin to discarding an entire dishwasher just because it doesn't start immediately. If something doesn't go perfectly right from the start, our tendency is to throw the whole thing away. This inclination is risky, especially when it pertains to relationships.

In life, we depend on others to share in our moments of both joy and hardship. When we experience moments of joy and have someone to share them with, it magnifies the happiness. Conversely, when faced with a burden, having someone to confide in lightens the load. It's a reminder that we all need people in our lives to accompany us through the good and bad days.

If you don’t have strong relationships, I encourage you to seek God and ask him to direct you to good friends, and then begin to work on strengthening those relationships.

Apply:

Make time for people. Go to lunch. Talk face-to-face. Call someone. Invest in friendship.

Pray:

God, guide me toward steadfast, spiritually uplifting friendships. Grant me the wisdom to nurture the relationships you've blessed me with, making them even more meaningful and supportive. Enable me to reach out and connect with those who may be seeking a friend in their own journey. In Jesus' name. Amen.