Friendship: The Gospel Is a Leveling Ground
When our perspective on relationships is rooted in the gospel, true friendship can blossom.
Have you ever "written off" a friendship with a new acquaintance, assuming she could never "get" you? I know I have. I desire to spare myself that sting of rejection that I fear.
But over the last year, God has shown me that those feelings that I have dismissed as my just being a little extra self-conscious are really a stronghold of pride in my life.
I don't want to admit it, but my insecurities have been a hindrance for sharing in meaningful friendship with others, loving them, receiving love from them, and sharing in ministering to the body of Christ. I often hesitate to "let people in," wanting sometimes just to "save face" rather than risk rejection.
I tend to forget that we are all in the same boat:
Every single woman is a sinner and is desperately wicked and depraved. She does not desire God or good apart from the strong, saving arm of her Almighty Father. When I believe what God's word says, the gospel becomes a leveling ground.
I am reminded that we all have different gifts and talents and abilities and even weaknesses, but by looking at relationships through the lens of God's word, I can look past the surface and know that, just like myself, other women are still in the flesh (in a body), and the fight between their flesh and spirit is a daily battle for them, too -- just like it is for me.
By knowing what God's word says about our nature AND about our God, I can humbly accept other women from the first time I meet them since I know that it's only by the blood of Jesus that any woman has anything together or can find any peace or grace in this spiritual race. I have no cause to feel intimidated by other women or inadequate (or at all superior, either) -- yes, in our feeble frame we are all inadequate! But Jesus Christ is our adequacy (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).
Rooting relationships in the fertile soil of the gospel devastates my pride and widens my understanding to see women as Jesus does. I've written about five principles that I have found are very helpful for me as I pursue friendship with other women. You can read about them here. I hope they encourage you as you seek to build friendship and fellowship that glorifies God and serves His children.
By His grace .. amanda