[strength]

There are those precious friends in life whom God has called to walk beside us.  They're friends who are faithful through changing seasons and moves and valleys and moutaintops.  They're the ones who know everything about us and love us anyway.  They're the ones who have opened the doors to their hearts and invited us to stay.  They're the ones who, no matter the circumstance or need, will always direct our eyes to Jesus.

One of my favorite friendship verses is 1 Samuel 23:16:  "Jonathan, Saul's son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God."

That's what my friends do for me.  And that's what I long to do for them.  Our friendship is about more than simply having common interests and similar life stories.  It's about our foundation; being rooted and grounded in Jesus.  It's coming alongside and reminding one another of the truths in God's Word.  These sister friends strengthen my hand in God,  and I am forever grateful.

As I was having my quiet time this morning, I discovered 1 Samuel 30:6:  "But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God."

While God is faithful to surround us with friends, there are also times when friends may fail; when we may feel distant or alone or forgotten.  As much as I fight against it, I know there are times I've disappointed my friends.  Additionally, I recognize that I've often sought solace and hope and encouragement from my earthly relationships, rather than from my Father God.  While He's called us into relationship with one another, He also wants us to find our satisfaction and joy in Him alone.  In this verse, we're shown that David strengthened himself in God; no one else was around to lift him up.  He found strength and comfort and joy in his Father God.

Are you feeling alone today?  Isolated?  Disappointed?  Are you feeling that no one is aware of your hurt or understands the depths of your pain?  Strengthen yourself in God, dear one.  Speak His Truth to yourself; rehearse Scripture; remind yourself how He's been gracious to you in the past.  The loneliness and drought of this current season could be exactly what He's using to turn your heart's gaze to Him. 

He alone is our strength.