With my past and everything I have walked through growing up I have recently lived in a state of life where I call NO ONE my best friend. I have ALOT of really close friends or I would call people one of my best friends. But I refused to call someone my best friend.
There was a lot of pain and hurt and fear attached to the words. I didn’t want anything to happen again to ruin our friendship over using the title. But through not using the title I wasn’t fully opening up with people and still holding myself back. I felt like I went deep to a certain point but then I would justify my stopping with, “they have another best friend,” or “we just aren’t friends like that,” or “it’s ok I don’t want to force them to be my best friend.” I wanted so badly to break through the barriers and have deep best friendships but I just kept stopping myself out of fear.
Tonight as I was joking around with one of my fellow squad mates, Alysa, she asked if it was ok to say “best friend” or to call me her best friend. It caught me off guard at first because I wasn’t expecting it but in the moment I knew this was part of my healing process with the Lord on this title and not walking out in fear. Because Alysa is my best friend.
I have a book here on the Race that holds pictures of my family and friends from home in it. I use it to share my life back at home with the people I meet here on the Race (and if I ever just want to see my family). When I would talk through the book every time I would get to Mellie’s page I would say “one of my best friends from home”. But this month I decided that I was going to choose to call her my best friend, cause it is ok and truth be told… she is.
I no longer fear that “best friend” is an exclusive or binding title. Because I am healed and free and washed in the blood of the Lamb and there is nothing to fear in a friendship.
This lie had been keeping me in bondage from experiencing true community in Christ and “iron sharpens iron” friendships. That is where the enemy wants us to be. It is through community and sharing life with people that we grow more and more into the image of Christ that we were always meant to be.
Is there something holding you back that you want freedom in? I challenge you to break the chains that bind you and walk into the fullness of life that God intended for you.
