Life has a way of placing us in seasons of unexpected challenges—moments when we feel lost, overwhelmed, or unsure of how to move forward. In those times, the gift of friendship can become a lifeline, offering strength, encouragement, and a reminder of God’s love.
I’ve experienced this firsthand, and I know how essential a supportive community can be during life’s hardest seasons.
Friendship in Hard Times
One of the most difficult moments in my life was when I suffered a miscarriage just before starting a new teaching job at the beginning of a brand-new school year.
The grief was all-consuming, and I felt completely lost. I didn’t know how to show up for work, let alone how to show up for myself. But my friends stepped in and became God’s hands and feet.
They showed up with meals to ensure I didn’t have to worry about cooking, offered prayers that lifted me when I couldn’t pray for myself, and simply sat with me in my pain. They didn’t push me to “move on” or rush my grieving process. Instead, they encouraged me to take all the time I needed to process what had happened. Their support allowed me to grieve fully, knowing I wasn’t alone.
Another time I leaned on my community was during my pregnancy with my youngest daughter. It was a difficult pregnancy that left me struggling physically to do even the simplest tasks. I couldn’t keep up with the things I normally did for my oldest daughter or my husband. Again, my friends stepped in to help.
They organized a meal train, providing weeks of dinners so I could rest without worrying about what my family would eat. Their kindness gave me the space I needed to prepare for labor and delivery. It was during that season I saw the beauty of friendship as a lifeline—a tangible expression of God’s care and provision.
The Power of Community in Our Journeys
Looking back on those hard seasons in my life, I realize just how much my friends were a reflection of God’s love and care for me. They didn’t just meet my physical needs with meals or prayers—they reminded me that I wasn’t alone, even in the darkest moments.
Their support became a lifeline that carried me through grief and uncertainty, but it also planted a seed in my heart. I began to feel God nudging me to take the encouragement and love I’d been shown and pass it on to others. I thought about other moms who might be walking through similar struggles—whether it’s grief, exhaustion, or the weight of trying to do it all—and I wanted to be a source of support for them.
That’s when I felt called to start building my own community. My goal wasn’t to have all the answers or to be perfect, but to create a space where moms could feel seen, supported, and reminded of God’s grace.
My experiences taught me that no one should have to navigate the tough seasons of motherhood alone, and I wanted to extend the same lifeline of friendship that was given to me.
A Biblical Example of Friendship
The Bible gives us so many examples of meaningful friendships, but one of the most powerful is the story of Jonathan and David.
Jonathan, the son of King Saul, formed a close bond with David and made a promise to be loyal to him no matter what. Even when Jonathan’s own father, King Saul, wanted to kill David, Jonathan risked everything to protect him—even though David’s success could have cost Jonathan his future as king.
Jonathan’s friendship shows us what it means to truly love someone: putting their needs ahead of our own, being a source of encouragement, and standing by them even in hard times. This kind of selfless love is a beautiful reminder of what Jesus told His disciples in John 15:13: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
Jesus takes friendship even further. He invites us to have a close, personal relationship with Him. His life and sacrifice show us how much God values connection and love—not just in our relationship with Him, but in how we care for each other. The way Jonathan and David showed up for each other is the same kind of love God calls us to share with the people in our lives.
Friendship as a Reflection of God’s Love
Proverbs 17:17 says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” These words reflect the power of Christ-centered friendships.
True friends love not only in the joyful seasons but also in the times of deep struggle. They show up when life feels heavy, offering support and comfort that points us back to God’s faithfulness.
If you’re in a season of struggle, I want to encourage you to lean on your community. Sometimes, we hesitate to ask for help, feeling like we should handle everything on our own. But God created us for connection, and friendships are one of His ways of providing strength during difficult times.
And if you’re in a season where things feel steady, consider this your nudge to reach out to someone who might need a lifeline of friendship. Send a text, drop off a meal, or simply sit with someone who needs to know they’re not alone. You may never know just how much your love and presence can impact someone who’s struggling.
Friendships are a gift from God, designed to carry us through life’s highs and lows. Like Jonathan and David, and like Jesus with His disciples, let’s strive to reflect God’s love in our relationships—showing up, supporting, and being present for one another, just as God has called us to do.