"Friends"

We have the freedom to choose our friends in life. I don't mean just in the physical sense. I mean, the things we 'hold hands' with that we label as our companions in everyday living. 

"Friends" like Sorrow or Shame or Fear may come to us daily, imposing their 'friendship' on us. They say, "We are the only friends you will ever have in life. So get used to us being around." They make themselves at home like they own the place. They take residency without 'paying rent' or giving back in anyway. They go by the name friend, but are really takers, intruders, and thieves!

The trouble with protecting ourselves against such "friends" is often times our lack of discernment to see them for who they are and the choice and authority we have in the matter. If we really did, we would not put up with them the way we do. We would see them coming down the street and instead of putting the welcome mat down for them, we would jump up, close our front door, and lock it with deadbolts and chains. 

But there might be reasons we don't resist or have stopped resisting them. The truth of the matter is some of us may not feel worthy enough to have better friends than this. We allow them to move in and torture us because we have convinced ourselves that this is all we deserve or this is just our normal. We might say, "This was my parents' normal, so now this is my normal. This is how it has always been and has always felt. And so this is the way it will always be." For some of us, if anxiety isn't pulsing through us for most of the day, we would almost feel restless like something is missing, something doesn't feel right. It's crazy, but it's true. We have learned to 'feed' off of fear and worry. We have grown used to tears and sorrow. We have made hopelessness our motto and placed its plaque above our doorframe. "This is my reality," we say. "This is just. the way. it is."

*Well, allow me to interrupt with a GREAT news update.* 

Jesus is alive. 

pause

I'm going to stop right there and say it again. Listen carefully and read it slowly: JESUS. IS. ALIVE. 

And since Jesus is Love, Hope, Peace...is all powerful.... our "friend" Despair is NOT holding the winning hand in our card game of life after all. There's a Player we can invite to the party that is holding a deck of trump cards and is ready to play hard in our defense -- overcoming whatever card is placed on the table that speaks defeat over our lives. Jesus IS the game-changer. He brings the catalyst for change. He brings life to our lives. 

And He introduces us to new friends. Good friends. Like Peace & Joy. And He re-establishes our thinking so our go-to companions are no longer the ones that suck the life out of us. Our new friends give to us, not take. And He gives us a new normal. He gives us a fresh reality - a healthy reality. He resets things, renews our minds. And though it might take time, He helps us see that it really is okay to let go of old "friends."