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31 – Be a True Friend in the Deep
Do you know people in deep places? People you want to help but don’t know what to say or do? Being a friend in the deep isn’t hard. All it takes is understanding, compassion, and truth. All of which can be shared through acts of kindness—some simple, some profound, all steeped in God’s love.
Show Notes
We talk a lot about how we feel and what to do when we’re in a deep place of struggle and difficulty, but what do we do when the person in that deep place isn’t us, but rather it’s someone we know and love?
Here are some things we can do:
Show up
“When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.” Job 2:12-13
Take the time to enter into their pain
“Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15
Really love them
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” Romans 12:9-10
Roll up your sleeves and help
We’re not talking about being a fixer or a rescuer. We’re talking about paying attention to what needs they may have in the deep and seeing what we can do to help ease those needs. This doesn’t have to be a big thing. We can help in small, meaningful ways. Never underestimate the power of a small act of kindness and caring.
Prayer
This is our big gun. Our best offering to those in need. It’s not the last resort, it’s the first priority. Whether we see results or not, we pray in obedience and faithfulness.
Remember where the power to be a giver comes from
“One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:24-25
God is our unending, untiring, all-powerful source. The secret is being so filled with Jesus, so satisfied in Him, that it overflows to others. We can give and give and give out of that abundance. We don’t need to receive when we’re already full. When we open ourselves to everything God wants to pour into us, it simply overflows.
Being a friend to your readers
The experience and understanding you gain by being a true friend will inform your writing, your message to your readers. The last thing you want to do when you’re writing for hurting people is to offer surface solutions. The only way to minister to them, to point them, in their pain, to the true source of comfort, is to be honest and authentic about the struggle, the journey.
Links
Click here to listen to our guest appearance with MacKenzie Monroe on the Cultivating the Lovely Podcast! It’s episode 20, Leaving a Legacy Through the Written Word.
We want to hear from you!
Do you know friends who are in deep places? What are some effective ways you’ve reached out to them?
Tweetables
The keys to being a true friend to those in the deep.
When you want to help a friend in the deep, but don’t know what to say or do.