STEP UP

Have you had friendships fall off, change, drift apart, face conflict that you just can't get through?

Was there someone who you always called first with news? Someone who you'd always ask for advice? That one person you trusted to talk you off the ledge?

And now they're not there for you anymore?

Whatever may have happened, you just don't have that same relationship any longer. 

Have you mourned that loss? Have you asked God why He allowed this person to no longer be in your life? 

Do you feel like you're all by yourself? Like you have no one?

This can be really tough. Even if nothing traumatic has happened to cause conflict, relationships change. 

And when that happens, we often find ourselves feeling like we're on an island. Alone. With no one to confide in, no one to offer us advice or guidance. 

And that is very likely when we find that we have some choices:

1) Step up and be willing to be brave enough to walk on our own, trusting that God is the only confidant we truly need, or...

2) Continue to seek a person who wil never ultimately fulfill the need to feel like we aren't alone.

It is true that God wants us to have companionship. Just as He created Eve for Adam because "it is not good for the man to be alone" (Genesis 2:18, NIV), God olaces people into our lives for different reasons and different seasons. Sometimes these people are to encourage us, to teach us, to be mentored by us, and sometimes they are with us for the long haul. 

However, God never meant for another person to become our everything.

And there are times in our lives when we are "on": The curtain rises, the music begins and the spotlight is on us. This is when we have the opportunity to step up. We can either trust in the Lord to guide us, and not worry about what man says or does, or we can shrink into the background and run off stage.

The choice is ours.

Have you found yourself in a season like this where you no longer, for whatever reason, have that someone to confide in, to cheerlead or guide you?

This could be you on stage!

Proverbs 3:5-6 says:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight."

When we feel alone and, sometimes, abandoned, we always have God to guide us, to see us through. 

When we feel we are up against an insurmountable (and scary!) task, God says, "I'm here. I'll lead you."

It can be painful when relationships change, but let's not forget that the relationship that matters most never has to. 

"Come near to God and he will come near to you." (James 4:8, NIV)

Father, it's so hard when relationsgips change and friends drift away. We want so badly to feel loved and cared for, that we sometimes forget that You have promised to always be there for us. You are the only One who can fill the need we have for support and companionship. Please give us courage when it's our time to step up. Please give us patience and wisdom in those times when we're involved in tricky relationship situations. We thank You so much for always being there for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.