Peace and a Milkshake

Restored Identity

Sitting in the passenger seat and stuck in the late-night Whataburger drive-thru line, I thought about my early flight the next morning and how I should probably get some sleep. Yet when I looked over and caught the eager expression of my longtime friend, who was picking the next song to play in her car, my worries dissipated. We were just two college graduates, waiting on our Dr. Pepper milkshakes.

In that long drive-thru line, I was delighted to be in her white sedan because we rarely had these times together anymore. Even though she had been my best friend in high school, our friendship had struggled when I moved across the country for school. I had changed radically in college and lost a desire to nurture our friendship, which I had hesitantly vocalized to her. We didn’t have an argument or falling-out; rather, the tangible, physical distance led to our relational distance, which I had discovered peace with.

Undoubtedly, the voice of Jesus had led me to new friends in college, but I felt bad about how easy it was to let go of my high school ties. Was it wrong to step into this new life with so much joy, and was it okay to hold new dreams close?

That night, as I reflected on our friendship journey, I found a new peace. Jesus spoke wordlessly in my heart, “Have peace, My child.” My old friend and I were able to be present and near to each other, unconcerned with the time we had spent apart and the time we would spend waiting on milkshakes. I smiled, soaked in the drive-thru’s fluorescent light, and listened to her give the full backstory on the song she had just added to the queue.

In that moment, I was thankful my newly discovered peace had carried us from growing apart to a place of connectedness, simply together and grateful for it. The moment of reunion with Paige reminded me that I did not have to figure it all out. All that had led up to that cherished Dr. Pepper milkshake was sustained by the sweet hands of Jesus, teaching me that redemption in a relationship is real and mine to hold.

Perhaps you have experienced a similar distance with a friend or family member. Maybe you have been apart for years, or maybe the Lord’s steady hand has led you to grow back together. These experiences can make us feel anxious to put all the pieces together as the perfect orchestrator. However, in all of our shifting, the Lord calls us to “strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

This kingdom calling is the most liberating burden-lifter in a complicated relationship. When we sit with this command, we realize that we are allowed to put aside our anxieties and refocus on the Lord’s call. When we soak in this message, we reclaim our stories.

When we put the Kingdom of God first, before all of our friendships, Scripture tells us that all these things will be given to us as well. Sister, the Lord wants to take care of us and tend to our friendships. When we follow His peace and stay locked into His wisdom, the Lord offers us full relationships wherein He provides for all our needs. When we find we cannot be present in friendship, when we cannot provide, the Lord fills in the gaps with His kindness.

I am so awestruck by the way the Lord has redeemed my friendship and breathed new life into it. Let us allow this scripture to heal wide disconnects and move us to gratitude.

Reflection Questions

• Are you struggling with a friendship that has shifted or changed? Take a moment to examine the connection and probe into your heart if you need to reach out in love.
• Our Lord wants to redeem our broken relationships. Celebrate a healed relationship you've experienced today. How did that take place?