You Don’t Have To Settle For Second Best!

Photo by Joel Bengs

Ever had a friend who drove you crazy? They say the weirdest things and do things you will never dream of, yet you are still friends. Well, they say opposites attract. As a kid, my best friend was really good at athletics; she won medal after medal. I could not run fast enough even if a dog chased me. I was soft spoken but she could yell at senior boys and they would run. What an unlikely combination we were and to this day, although our roads led to different countries, we are still best friends.

Everyone needs a good friend. We need someone we can go to, someone we can lean on. They say no man is an island but there are so many people living in isolation. They are surrounded by countless people but they are starving of meaningful human intimacy. If you have deep heart issues, superficial relationships will not fill that need. If your soul is crying out for help, you will not find it amongst fair weather friends. A good friend is there to walk with you, talk with you, share your joys and sorrows and cheer you on as you travel through life.

Why do you like your best friend so much? It is because they complete you. I have notice an old married couple; one talks non-stop and the other just sits there silently and peacefully. He scatters his stuff all over his desk; she has everything neatly arranged. He is a pessimist while she is an optimist. So different yet they are still together, happily married! What is their secret? It is because they share a complementary relationship that is key to their happiness and fulfilment.

Why do we some people think they can do life on our own? Sooner or later time catches up with them and they get lonely. We need a friend who is there to listen when our hearts are overwhelmed. We need a friend who is there to understand the pain we go through. We need a friend who can share the load with us. That is what best friends do. We need a friend we can run to. Listen to this song – I will run to you.

There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. In Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He is a friend like no other. Unlike a friend who might be separated by distance, He is a constant companion. If you seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him. We have a friend who is always there, no matter what. Is He your friend? He is a friend that I cannot do without.◊

Linda Pearl