Q: How can I have strong friendships?
A: Not only can you have meaningful friendships, but God desires them for you. He is interested in every aspect of your life. He desires the very best for you. Your heavenly Father sent His best—Jesus—to the cross on your behalf so that you might have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Your Lord and Savior is the friend that sticks closer than a brother—One who has promised to never leave you nor forsake you.
The Bible says that in order for you to have friends, you must be friendly (Proverbs 18:24). Your environment and the way you live your life will have a lot to do with the type of friends you will have. The most important thing you need to look for in a friend is that they have a desire and love for the things of the Lord as you do.
To have friends does not mean you have to continue to hang with someone who conduct themselves as the world does. Not that you stop loving these people or acknowledging them, but you simply do not have to maintain close relationships with them (2 Thessalonians 3:11-15). Your pursuit is for a deep, more real friendship, and God is aware of that.
As you seek God’s kingdom above all else and live righteously, He will give you everything you need (Matthew 6:33). In the meantime, enjoy your life serving your heavenly Father. Do not allow Satan to rob you of your joy and fellowship with God.
