BROKEN FRIENDSHIP

Written by Luz Leigh – 09 January 2008

      What do you think of when you hear the word friendship? To me it means the closeness between two people who share many of the same values, beliefs, dreams and desires. A friendship consists of trust. What is trust? This means to place confidence in someone and to rely on the truthfulness of that person. 

      The word deceive….does that sound like a word that would be associated with friendship? Of course not. To deceive means to be untruthful; to give a false impression or appearance. Another way of expressing it would be to say to cause someone to accept as true or valid something that is false.

      “Friendship is the state of being friends.” “Friend is a favored companion; someone who comforts, shares.” These quotes are from an email I recently received from a person who had not the slightest idea I would have need of them…..to share here with others.

      Friendships don’t just happen. The ones involved must share with the other person; open one’s heart. Close friendships bring much happiness and joy to each involved. In Proverbs 17:17 we find that a friend loves at all time. According to Proverbs 27:9 the heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume or incense. But on the other hand we find that gossip or a gossiper can separate the best of friends, Proverbs 16:28.

      Then what happens when one of those involved in the friendship chooses to be untruthful, unfaithful? The chasm opens and the innocent one finds himself sinking deep into despair. A hurt comes upon that person that is hard to describe. Other friends and family members will notice a difference and some will try to help, but there is not a lot that can be done. The knife of untruthfulness has cut a deep swathe in the heart. Only time will heal that wound. Time spent in the presence of the Lord……seeking solace there. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus told us to come unto Him with our burdens (hurts, troubles) and He will give us rest. In the 143^rd Psalm we find King David vowing to “flee unto Thee to hide me.” He was seeking shelter and protection in the arms of his Lord.

      Two traits that will help a person develop into a worthy person are commitment and sincerity. The traits on the other side of the scale are deceit and unkindness.

      The person left behind when a friendship fails can become angry and unforgiving. But these traits can only hurt the one who is experiencing them. The friend who walked away will never know the depths of pain being felt by the other friend. Or many times he knows but cares not since he is looking only for satisfaction in another arena of life.

      For whatever reason that person chose to end the friendship, he will have to live with the harm that has been inflicted. I was recently told by a dear friend that when God takes something from your grasp, He’s not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. So with that thought in mind, to those of you who are suffering from the breakup of a friendship, watch for what the Lord has in store for you. In 1^st Peter 5:7 we find that God cares for us. We can rest in the knowledge He will not turn away from us in our hour of need; we as His children should be running to Him for comfort.