Community. I used to always think about this as a word to describe the atmosphere and the people of a town, so community for me would be anyone that lived in the town I lived in regardless if I knew or had relationship with them or not. I guess that’s partially true, but over the past year or so I’ve learned that it’s much more than that. Community is a place where you can be yourself. It’s a place where you can be intentional with others and grow in relationship instead of just skimming the surface.
As I was studying the Word this week, the Lord revealed to me characteristics of friendship that are present in healthy community through some passages.
So what are some characteristics of friendship that are found in scripture?
- Loyalty.“Now when Job’s three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to show him sympathy and comfort him.” Job 2:11. Sometimes being there for a friend simply means showing up. Make time for those who are important to you and just be there (even if you can’t physically be there, listening & comforting your friend can be enough).
- Support. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. Sometimes we need the support of those around us whether it be physically, emotionally, or spiritually to help us keep going.
- Unconditional love. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17. Even when times get tough a good friend will not leave your side, but instead will continue to love you. This makes your bond stronger knowing that not even trials can break the friendship. It’s an always kind of love, a Jesus love.
- Encouragement. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17. We all have bad days at one point or another, and I know personally when a friend encourages me and reminds me of the Father’s love, my heart strengthens. Encouragement is needed on good days too. One part of encouragement that I am just recently learning the importance of is feedback- the kind that corrects you and is meant to help make you better and the kind that acknowledges the parts of you that resemble Jesus to remind you to keep growing in it.
These are all qualities I value in friendship and God being the coolest being there is, showed me that the community I am surrounded by throughout these 9 months encompass these qualities. (*sidenote: there are more characteristics about friendships found throughout the Bible, I only highlighted a few here.)
For example, at the end of this week, our team had a night of feedback and as each teammate spoke I was overwhelmed with love because these ladies genuinely care for one another. When I was corrected I felt loved because I thought “wow these gals actually care about me enough that they want to see me grow”. This is the kind of encouragement that sharpens one’s character and faith.
I am so thankful for my teammates and squadmates. They are freaking awesome.
These are only half of my teammates: Ella, Gracie, Sophie, and Cami (missing our other chicas: Lexi, Mack, Abby, and Kori & awesome team leader Alyssa).
“Surround yourself with the dreamers and the doers, the believers and the thinkers, but most of all, surround yourself with those who see greatness within you, even when you don’t see it yourself.” -unknown
Thanks so much for taking your time to read this 🙂 You’re awesome.
All my love,
Melissa
