{"id":8163,"date":"2024-02-08T10:28:48","date_gmt":"2024-02-08T16:28:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freshhope.us\/the-ultimate-friendship-and-love\/"},"modified":"2024-02-08T10:28:48","modified_gmt":"2024-02-08T16:28:48","slug":"the-ultimate-friendship-and-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freshhope.us\/es\/the-ultimate-friendship-and-love\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Friendship and Love"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Peggy Rice, Hope Coach Trainer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cThere is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.\u201c  <\/em>Proverbs 18: 24b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now combine that verse with what Jesus says in Matthew 28:20: \u201cAnd behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s the ultimate friendship. A forever friendship with Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Hope Coach, I\u2019ve spoken to many people who feel alone, without friends who understand. They feel like they\u2019re the only one going through what they\u2019re going through. All by themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe it\u2019s a mental health challenge. Maybe it\u2019s loving someone with a mental health challenge. Maybe it\u2019s just a life situation that has them feeling stuck. No matter what, they feel very alone, with no one who \u201cgets it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be a debilitating feeling. It can lead to feelings of hopelessness. It can lead to feelings of isolation. It can be paralyzing. It can breed ruminating \u2013 dwelling on the hopeless feelings and repeating \u201cI\u2019m all alone in this,\u201d over and over in their heads. Soon, that\u2019s all they can see \u2013 that they\u2019re alone in their misery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But those are lies of the enemy. They are not the truth of Scripture. The Bible tells us that we are never alone. \u201cFor he has said, \u2018I will never leave you nor forsake you.\u2019\u201d<\/em> Hebrews 13:5b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jesus has called us \u201cfriend\u201d (see John 15:15). He has promised to always be with us, and we assured of His Presence by the Holy Spirit, dwelling inside of us. We have the power of the Risen Christ living in us! We have power to overcome our hopeless feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best way to thwart the lies of the enemy is with the truth of God\u2019s Word. For every lie that Satan tells us, we need to find a verse in Scripture that reminds us of how God sees us: as His beloved children (John 1:12; I John 3:1); as redeemed (Ephesians 1:7); as forgiven (Colossians 2:13); as more than conquerors (Romans 8:37).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find yourself believing the lie that you are all alone, remind yourself of the above truths from God\u2019s Word!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But we are not just friends with God. We are loved<\/strong> by God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n