In my line of work I talk to people on almost a daily basis that are dealing with hurt and pain from friendships gone bad. The are any number of reasons that friendships can and do go bad, and regardless of the reason it usually leaves those involved with pain and hurt. We all desire to have good friends and strong, healthy relationships.
The strongest foundation you can have for building healthy friendships is making sure that your own relationship with God is right. When you are born again and have His Spirit living within you, then the good fruit of the Spirit begins to grow.
By spending time each day in prayer and reading the Bible you will be learning a lot about God’s character and what he desires for us in our lives. You’ll find yourself treating others with more respect, love and care because it is an extension of your relationship with God. All of the fruits of the Spirit that we read about in the Bible will help to produce healthy friendships.
If two friends are both in a healthy relationship with God they can’t help but have a strong and healthy friendship. They will have plenty in common and they will value the same things in their lives. Relationship killers like pride, jealousy and anger will not be present and will not destroy the friendship. The friends will even be willing to confront one another when needed, but in love.
Walking in His light and living His way doesn’t guarantee that others will do the same, however, but at least you know you are doing right and that you bring to the friendship ingredients for growth and harmony. Remember you are only responsible for your part in the relationship not the other person’s. You can only control your thoughts, feelings and actions, no one else’s.
If you want to learn more about having strong and healthy relationships, take some time to read and study the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians. Here we read about love and the impact that it has on all of our relationships. As you read, think about how love is described and how it can impact the relationships in your lives.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being my Friend and for blessing me with other friends as well. Help me to be a faithful friend to You and to those you’ve placed beside me.
Dr. Ann Shorb provides professional professional Christian counseling services to individuals, families, and couples from her Hanover, PA office. She helps clients with a wide variety of issues including marital counseling, premarital counseling, addiction, AD/HD, depression, anxiety, and more.
