Saturday Story Time – Jimbob’s Brotherly Love

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17 NIV

Job’s friends get a bad rap because of their blinded advice for him to curse God and die. They did not have the knowledge of the first chapter encounter between God and Satan. BUT they showed up in his distress. They sat on the ground mourning with him in silence for 7 days before anyone spoke. It appears they stayed with him throughout the whole ordeal, for they were there for Job to pray blessing over them in the last chapter. Would you have canceled your life schedule to sit with Job?

Adversity is ugly. 
Adversity is incovieninet. 
Adversity is troublesome. 
Adversity opens the door for gossip about all the “why it is happening." 
Adversity comes to all, for some in greater measure than others 
Adversity can be self inflicted or pounced upon you. 
Adversity rarely has a good ending in sight. 
Adversity is and feels lonely. 
Adversity throws you in the victimized hole of “nobody has problems like me”. 
Adversity loses its grip when friends are present.

One of my  prayers for you this year is to nurture friendships which will sustain you in adversity. Ask God to help you identify those relationships. Pray for them daily. Call them regularly. Give God thanks for them. Ask good questions about their physical, emotional and spiritual well being. Give each other space to live beyond one another. And BE THERE when it matters. BTW your spouse deserves the number one spot of the closeness. They have stayed with you in your ugliest moments. SO, love on them as the person of highest value and blessing and favor will finding a resting spot upon your home.

ALSO, may this be the year for increased intimacy with Jesus. He is the friend that sticks closer to you than a brother. Nurture that intimacy in the day to day routine, so that you know how to lean on Him in the hard times. He loves you through thick and thin, through prosperity and poverty, through your worship and your pursuit of other god substitutes, and through your brokenness when you call out for help once again.  This is your year to draw close to God, find Him and love Him with all of your heart, mind and strength.

Thank God for friends. Be the best one that you can be and my God bless you back. Laughter with a friend is good medicine…take as often as needed.

Blessings Love y’all