Friendship in the Pit

Friendship in the Pit

From: Today God Is First by Os Hillman

April 8, 2021

"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." - Proverbs 17:17

"I am in there again," I told my friend. "The pit."

The pit is a time when no one can cheer you up and you are so broken and defeated that you wonder if there ever was or is a God.

Have you ever had such times?

Discouragement can be devastating even to the best of saints. It can bring us so low that arising seems impossible.

The writer of Proverbs phrased it well when he said, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12).

When we get so low that we despair of our faith, we can identify with the prophet Elijah who wanted to die after becoming so discouraged with life.

"I'm coming over," my friend said.

"Aw, you don't have to do that," I said.

"I'm coming over. We're going to pray."

About 30 minutes later my friend walked in the door. We sat in my living room and my friend began to pray.

I didn't feel like praying. I was too deep in the pit. All I could do was listen.

After awhile my friend was quiet. We both sat quietly for ten to fifteen minutes, praying quietly to ourselves. Suddenly my friend said, "First Thessalonians 5:24!"

"What verse is that?" I asked.

"I don't know, but that is the verse the Lord spoke to me."

I grabbed my Bible and looked up the verse. "The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it."

We laughed. Can He be so personal? Can He care that much?

Do you have a friend who is there when you need somebody at any hour of the day?

Are you there for your friend?

Ask the Lord how you can be a better friend to someone today.