Battle Buddies
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” - Proverbs 17:17
I was telling a friend the other day that, even though this has been an incredibly hard season, it’s been an incredible moment for the Church in my life. I am confident that there is no other support system on the planet that compares to the Church when she is functioning in her purpose.
When an old familiar friend, Heartbreak, unexpectedly showed up at my front door the response from my friends was overwhelmingly beautiful. One friend showed up with coffee, one brought me lunch. One friend came with her newborn and prayed over me as I cried harder than her baby.
A few days into Heartbreak’s unwanted and unwelcomed visit, I mentioned to a few friends that I was having a hard time eating; everything sounded completely unappetizing. The very next morning, I heard a knock at my bedroom door. I opened it to find one of my dear friends standing there, holding a plate, with breakfast on it. “You don’t have to eat this… but I think you should try.” she said to me. I was undone.
This is one of many stories I could tell you about in which the incredible love of Jesus was on display through my friends and leaders but the point that I really want to make is that when you give your life to Jesus, He of course saves you from a lot of things: sin, death, hell, etc… but He also saves you for something: to be part of His Bride.
You were not created to be alone in this life and while, of course, your one on one relationship with Jesus is the most important thing in this life, the vast majority of this life is meant to be lived in community- especially your Christian walk. We need one another more than we realize. The amount of times in this season that I have had friends who held up my arms in this fight as Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms are uncountable.
The devil wants to take you OUT. Often that comes through discouragement and disappointment but nothing makes it easier for him to do this than isolation. When you’re alone, he can pick you off before you even realize it’s happened. But when you have locked arms with those around you that are running after Jesus and are anchored in the Word of God (not in their emotions or feelings) then you are much less likely to fall when he comes for you.
You need your battle buddies. You need to find the people who will hold you when you cry and will remind you of who you are in Christ and, more importantly, who God is no matter your situation.
Go find your battle buddies; lock arms, fight for them, and let them fight for you.
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
- 1 Peter 5:8-9
