THE GIFT OF MEN

I’ve always been the type of person who to an extent loves to share my feelings and thoughts with my person(friends/sisters) but in recent times I’ve kept things to myself because I just feel like it’s better to give than to receive and I’ll rather continue to pour from my empty cup if possible. I just really felt the need to stop sharing and just be there for people(if that makes sense)

This brings us to a question. Do you know people are stationed in strategic places in your life by God? Do you know God places people in your life for a reason?

The gift of men is so beautiful! Your friends and the people around you (community/parents/pastor/siblings etc) are not just there for the title. God didn’t bring you to this earth to do life alone (He knew Adam couldn’t do life alone and so He gave Adam an Eve)

Friendships/sisterhoods/brotherhoods/relationships are so important and necessary. Stop trying to be the strong friend while struggling in silence. There’s so much power in friendships/relationships even the Godhead is a trinity (Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit). Proverbs‬ ‭17:17‬ says “A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” and that’s to say we’re not supposed to do life in isolation.

Your friends are there to remind you of Gods word and promises when necessary

In certain situations God speaks to us through our friends, through the people He placed in our lives.

You know everything about God is strategic and I’ll tell you why I said that. I was recently going through a breakdown and I literally was ghosting everyone and on this faithful day, I got a text from someone (someone I wasn’t close to at the time. We’d normally just say hi to each other whenever we see) 

So I get a text from this person saying~how are you and where are you currently?

And I say~ I’m alright thank you, I’m home(Warri)

The person says~ Oh, you’re back!

And I say~ I didn’t go anywhere, I’ve been breezing in and out of church and that’s why you probably haven’t seen me”

The person asks~ why?

And I say~ I’m avoiding to smile and greet a lot of people 

And the person says~ I know you’re a Christian(lol) but are you okay? Is there a way you feel that isn't so so usual?

Yo! That was so weird and I remember laughing so much because I wasn’t understanding why the person was pushing to know if I was fine or not and I immediately get a call from someone else who I haven’t spoken to in a while and this other person was also pushing on the call to know if I was fine or not (and I just kept on laughing, not because anything was funny but I was laughing in confusion because why was everyone concerned at the same time)

Thankfully, something came up and I couldn’t have a conversation with the person that called. Boom! I get another text from the first person asking if it’s fine to have a phone conversation and I said yes. I had this phone conversation for 2hours and this person goes ahead to lecture me, telling me to reach out to my friends and stop pushing them aside. This person said to me “Who told you, you’re bothering us?” That’s why we are your friends, we have a duty and that is what we signed up for🥺and in that moment I felt really loved, I felt better (maybe not completely but I felt lighter) and also realized the power in community and friendships and I knew that was God doing His thing as usual (My Good father coming through for me)

You might be going through a rough time and the friend you never have deep conversations with might be the one to help you through that season. I say it again, God places people in your life for a reason. A lot of people in your life and in your corner are divinely orchestrated by God. When you’re down and need help, they’re a lot of channels of encouragement around you. 

God teaches us brokenness through friendships

God teaches us the power in vulnerability through friendships

I get that we’re scared of being judged but that doesn’t take away the power in vulnerability. James‬ ‭5:16‬ says Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other…

Sometimes being vulnerable launches you into freedom from a particular thing

Stop putting up an image of that friend who has it all together, who has no trying times 

Don’t manage your way out of seasons but open up your heart to learn the lessons you need to learn from that season.

Don’t live life without having the need for others. Even Jesus needed Simon to carry His cross at some point (Luke 23:26) so It’s okay to be weak

It is okay to cry

It okay to be vulnerable 

It okay to ask for help

There’s power in Honesty and transparency

This brings us to another question 

Who are your friends?

What’s your support system like?

Do you have a community?

Do you have people who weigh their problem with yours. People who say “your own is even small, if I tell you what’s wrong with me eh” (Run away from that person😭)

Do you have friends who can listen, who can pray for you, who can support you and who can genuinely love you, people who can remind of Gods promises on the days you forget and feel weak?

Here’s another important question 

Are you a friend to your friend?

Are you a friend who listens?

Are you a friend who loves your friend genuinely and not because they can give you everything 

Are you a friend who can pray for your friends?

In conclusion Don’t walk alone, don’t travel alone, don’t do life alone. Set a good support system, Know your friends, check your corner, Pray to God to give you good friends and position the right people around you. 

Revaluate your system and the people around you. There’s power in community, friendships, relationships, brotherhoods and sisterhoods

Song for the week~~

https://music.apple.com/ng/album/how-are-you-my-friend/1647841967?i=1647841968

PS: I’ve been listening to this song and i really love it. You should check it out

https://music.apple.com/ng/album/highest-praise/1643528549?i=1643528557