Friends-Good, Bad, and All The Ugly
Friends-Good, Bad, and All the Ugly
A very close friend of mine sent me a text message that stated, "I am so glad we can tell each other the good, the bad, and all the ugly!" This person and I have been friends for many a year, and we have learned to share our joys and our failures. We recognize that we are far from perfect, so we share our struggles and rejoice in each other's successes.
David and Jonathan had a somewhat solid friendship too, beginning with the good days of David's victory over Goliath (1 Samuel 18:1-4). They also shared their fears during the bad days of Jonathan's father's jealousy. Finally , the suffered together during the ugly days of Saul's plans to kill David (1Samuel 20:42). True friends do not abandon each other when external circumstances change. They stay and stick it out through the good and the bad times. True friends also may point each other to God in the bad times, when one might be tempted to walk away from the Lord.
Sincere friendships are really a gift from God because they exemplify the perfect Friend, who remains loyal through the good, the bad, and the ugly times. A true friend is the first person who comes in when the rest of the world has gone out. As the Lord is quick to remind us, "Never will I leave you; nor will I forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).
Lord, I truly thank You for the good friends You have placed in my life, but above all else, I thank You for Your friendship.