Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Alicia T. Crosby

Home
Progressive Christian
The Importance of Fellowship (Needing a Friend)

The Importance of Fellowship (Needing a Friend)

Last updated on: November 26, 2013 at 12:20 am by Alicia T. Crosby

The Importance of Fellowship (Needing a Friend) 2013-11-26T00:20:34-04:00 Alicia T. Crosby

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Many of us go through life feeling incredibly alone. We feel lonely and isolated at times, like the weight of our world is crushing us because there is no one there to help carry us our burdens. My Love, life is not meant to be lived that way.

At our core, we are incredibly relational beings who possess a need to be connected to one another. However, sometimes things happen in our worlds that make us resist fellowship with others.

You may have been betrayed by people you love.

You may have legitimate trust issues.

Someone may have hurt you in unspeakable ways.

I am not here to deny or invalidate your pain because the truth is sometimes people suck. They absolutely suck and deserve to be kicked or slapped or fussed out or worse. But people includes you and it includes me. We’ve all done something wrong to someone at some point but still deserve to be in relationship.

While living solo affords silence and peace at times there are other things it doesn’t allow you. You don’t have someone who can encourage you in those dark hours or to laugh with in the times that call for laughter. You don’t get to enjoy the warmth of a hug or the other simple joys that intimacy with another person affords you.

I encourage you to consider allowing someone to walk alongside you. Consider letting one other person help you hold yourself up when all you want to do is collapse. Consider letting someone help you accomplish the good work you are called to do. You may not need a host of people around you but sometimes it helps to have just one.

———————————————————————————————————————————————-

Dear God,
I thank you for the person who took the time to read this. I thank you for their life, their work, their beauty and the impression of their spirit in the world. Lord, draw near to them in this hour. You know every hurt, every circumstance that they have walked through in life and since you do, I ask that you bend your ear and hear them. Hear their pain, hear the weariness of their hearts and I ask that you respond in the form of a friend. Lord you are an awesome friend and by your Spirit we feel a little less alone but you know that sometimes we need a physical embodiment of your love. So please give them that, give them someone who will love them with your love and lift them up. Give them someone who helps life become just a little brighter because they share the light that you give with them. And when you draw this friend near, I ask that you bless this relationship. May you be the third cord in their bond weaving them together so that they can weather the storms of life with support and rejoice when things are calm. I believe you will do a good thing in helping who you draw together build healthy, productive fellowships. It’s in Jesus’ name that I pray. Amen.

Religion and Spirituality

Self Care

Previous Post

November 24, 2013

Quickie: Waiting Here for You

Next Post

November 26, 2013 It Struck A Chord: Authentic Love

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Devotions Faith Justice & Activism Musings My Thoughts Poetry Prayers Spirituality The Blog Things That Struck a Chord Uncategorized

Select a Month August 2020 June 2020 October 2019 July 2019 June 2019 March 2019 January 2019 June 2018 May 2018 March 2018 February 2018 October 2017 September 2017 July 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 January 2017 December 2016 October 2016 September 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What four things does the Pale Horse in Revelations bring upon the earth?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Sword, famine, plague, and wild beasts Storms, earthquakes, floods, and darkness Silence, fire, blood, and pestilence Wrath, power, redemption, and judgment