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“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11 (ESV)

Us independent people, you know like me, usually have no problem doing life solo. We press though when times get tough, we anchor down when storms rage and we coast through the mundane. From a distance, we appear to be ideal – never missing the mark.

Couldn’t be further from the truth. Despite our picture of doing it well, we’re really a snapshot of those who cheer us on and keep us real. Solo may steer us, but the real driving force is found in those we do life with.

Reminded of this today when a sweet friend texted about studying God’s word together. We’re in different cities, hours apart, but that has never stopped us. While she thinks she is the one who needs the discipline and structure, I thrive in our conversations over God’s word. She asks big, deep questions, ones I usually don’t have the answers to. But knowing we will be wrestling it through keeps me disciplined, focused and dependent on God’s wisdom.

While one might feel they are the benefactor of our insight, real truth is we both bring a lot to the table. We all need a little help from our friends – iron sharpening iron. Whether you are a mentor or mentee, God polishes us all in the realities of life. God’s word and the Holy Spirit’s leading enables us to gain personal revelation. And when we lock arms with another, the potential for growth is multiplied.

Desiring to flourish in 2024 – who will you personally invest in? Who will you seek out to invest in you? We need to pour out and we need to receive. God is great at orchestrating the right person we need and uses us to simultaneously meet a need for them. Best win – win ever!

Life is simply too hard to imagine solo. My sweet friend and I have been doing Bible study together for years. We don’t always agree, we don’t always get our reading done in time for discussion. Sometimes the urgency of life totally redirects our conversation. Grace covers us and love binds us. Nothing sweeter than a little help from our friends.

“Father, thank You for the gift of friendship which sharpens us, encourages and spurs us on to be more like You.”

For His Glory

Janet Martin
TRBC Women’s Life