Navigating Friendship

“A friend loves at all times, and a sister is born for adversity.”
— Proverbs 17:17

A woman once told me that friendship is a lot like sailing.

When she was young, she thought the best friendships were like calm seas, smooth, easy, full of sunshine and laughter. But as she got older, she realized the real ones are actually built in the wind.

Life has a way of pulling people apart with its tides. A new job, a growing family, little misunderstandings that never quite get talked out. She used to get so scared whenever the boat started to rock, thinking it was a sign they were drifting away for good.

But with time, she learned something. Strong friendship is about figuring out how to navigate it together, with a whole lot of grace.

Sometimes that looks like giving someone space instead of demanding an explanation.

Sometimes it's swallowing your pride and sending the first text.

And sometimes, it's understanding that not every friend is meant to sail with you for your whole life, and that's okay. Each one taught you something new about reading the wind.

In the end, friendship is a lot like faith. You don't need to control the journey. You just need to show up.

You don't have to calm the whole ocean. You just have to stay in the boat, keep your heart open, and trust your compass.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

If you've ever watched a friendship drift and felt powerless to stop it, remember Ruth and Naomi. Their relationship wasn't flawless, but it was full of faithfulness. Genuine friendship is more about perseverance and less about perfection. Be the friend who commits to staying, who practices forgiveness, and who actively chooses love when walking away would be simpler.

PRAYER:

Lord, thank You for the people who walk beside me.
Teach me to be gentle in the storms, patient in the silence, and grateful in the calm.
Help me to love as You love; steady, kind, and true. Amen.