Hello, and welcome to Enbolden, living a bold Christian life. I'm Chris Shutter, an ordinary Christian living with and learning about an extraordinary God. In the book of Jude we read about the grumblers and the fault-finders following their own evil desires and boasting about themselves. I find the best way not to be a grumbler and a fault-finder, which I struggle with, is instead to look for ways to be thankful and grateful.
That's why on the Enbolden podcast we're doing 30 Days of Thankfulness. Please join me. Today's thankful verse comes from Matthew 11. Truly, I tell you, among those born of women, there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist.
It's been quite a few years, but the period of time where I felt I had zero friends still can bring me a bit of sadness. You see, I was in the midst of mild depression, hormonal changes, medical issues, and some family changes. And as I evaluated the relationships I had outside of my family, I realized I lacked any true friends. I had many acquaintances, but no friends I could solidly rely upon.
There's many of us that have gone through, or maybe currently in that lonely place. God, from the beginning, decided we shouldn't be alone, and when we are, we feel that sense of incompleteness. What I love about the verse from Jesus today is how He showed the world how much He loved and valued friendship. Imagine a friend elevating you to such heights.
When my youngest daughter went off to college, she discovered that type of friendship. I still remember the phone call when she told me she had finally realized what true loving friendship means. And she said, when my friend introduces me, she starts out saying what an amazing writer I am and how talented I am. You're so proud of being excited to walk alongside me in life without jealousy or competition, she explained.
Isn't that the type of friendship we all need? Ones where we lift each other up and comfort each other when we are down? People who jump at the chance to help us and just live life with us? Ecclesiastes 4-10 says, If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. I've come a long way from that sad time in my life. I turn to God and the Holy Spirit for help. I asked for good women to come into my life and they have.
I had to do a lot of work on my end because God revealed the reasons I was in that place to begin with. I needed to learn to be the friend I desired to have. Let's thank God for giving us the yearning for friendship. Let's thank God for helping fill that yearning.
And although we are never truly alone because of our fellowship with the Almighty, he wants us in Christian fellowship to guide us in our sanctification journey. Our first step is to ask him to fulfill this need and then we might need to go to work. I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Embolden Podcast. Be sure to follow along so you don't miss any episode.
And check out my blog at Embolden.net.