Friendship—It's ComplicatedSample

Day 2

Women, it’s time for us to heal, restore, and uncomplicate that which has been stolen or lost when it comes to female relationships. We need to heal from the wounds our mothers, mentors, and sisters gave us. We need to let Jesus take the knives out of our backs that people we once trusted placed there. We need to rise up and show our daughters a new way.

We all have scars from relational brokenness. Just remember that your scars tell a story. They are the strongest part of your skin. Wounds need attention and care to eradicate infection so that healing can run its course, but scars tell a story of healing. If you have wounds, let them be healed. If you have scars, maybe it’s time to awaken to the truth that you are being called to come alongside another sister, share your story, and show her how to heal, letting her know that she doesn’t have to be on the outside looking in anymore.

Yes, it can be complicated, because we are complex, intricate human beings with a past, but we also have an unwritten future and an opportunity within this present moment to begin to forge new pathways. 𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝙞𝙨—𝙬𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚.

When we don’t know who we are and what we are potentially bringing to the table in friendship, or in any relationship for that matter, it can harm our connection instead of fostering it. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made; it’s simply a fact (see Psalm 139 below). God adores who you are. He intentionally made you and wants to heal any brokenness that has the potential to build barriers to genuine connection with others.

On a daily basis, we need the saving grace and mercy that Jesus brings into our lives—we cannot save ourselves without Him, nor can we become more like Him on our own. If we try to do this life without Jesus, we begin to operate from a position of self-help instead of surrender, and we find ourselves in similar broken cycles instead of being formed more into the likeness of Christ—which is the goal.

Reflection Points

• What aspects of your personality and unique makeup as a created being in the image of God do you love?

• Where do you have brokenness in the way that you see yourself? Consider taking a moment to surrender that to God and ask Him to show you the truth.

• How has your past pain with other women stopped you from helping and championing women today? Ask Father God what healing He has for you in this area of your life. Consider taking some time to sit before Him and to listen and receive that healing.