Seasons

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Ephesians 4:25

Friends move in and out of your life like a season. Currently, I am in the “friends with young children” season of my life. If you have a friend that seems distant and you are not as close as you once were, don’t fret. There are reasons certain people are in our life at certain times. You may not know the reason for a long time, but later looking back, you’ll see the logic in the relationship, or lack of relationship.

Or, is it true that the season of fun loving times with a certain friend is over. Possibly you have been hurt by a close friend? Chances are that you have hurt that friend as well. Is it time to explore the left hand column? Is God trying to reveal something to you through the conflict you are having with this friend? Compare the issue with other issues in your life, is there any consistency? If someone is bold enough to speak the truth to you, be tough enough to “take it’. Don’t react, but respond, ponder and pray. You will be angry at first, but the more you think about it, you will most likely hear the voice of God speaking to you through your friend.

You and your “truth speaking friend” may take a reprieve from being close, but chances are when you decide to rekindle your friendship, it will be stronger and healthier, as both of you have grown. A new, brighter season will begin in the chapter of your life, all because you chose to learn and grow, rather than marinate in your woes and problems, thus becoming stagnant. Which will you choose; A bright shiny new season, or stagnation?

Lord, I pray that any complicated relationship I have will be used for good, in that we will find Your will in the process of any conflict.