Beneath the SurfaceSample

Good friends make a huge difference in your life. Being close to people who are fun, helpful, protective, wise, and kind can make all the difference when you're trying to figure out who you are. These are the people who will motivate you to be the best version of yourself.

But every now and then, you may make a friend whose choices and values seem different than yours. They're not a bad person, but maybe they're not the best influence. Maybe they've gotten in some trouble school or at home, or maybe they aren't respectful of authority figures. But you still want to be friends with them. Is that so bad?

The answer is no! Part of the reason God will bring some people into our lives is so that we can be a good influence on them. Some people are in tough situations, and they could really use a good friend to help them learn and grow. If God has given you the opportunity to be a good influence in someone else's life, you should take it.

Of course, we have to be careful that we're pulling them forward instead of them pulling us backward. But in today's Scripture reading, God tells us how to do just that. We need to be wise, and make sure we're always gracious in our conversations.

Think of people in your life that could use a good influence. With God's help, how can you encourage that person to be the best version of themselves?