Friends make our joys sweeter and our trials easier to bear.
There’s nothing like friendships with like-minded sisters in Christ to comfort and support you in the difficult times and rejoice with you in good seasons.
Back-to-back girls’ nights out this week — first with my cross country moms group and next with my church gals — injected an oasis of calm, a healthy dose of laughter, and some solid adult conversation into an otherwise busy week. It’s not always easy to carve out time to just be one of the girls, stepping away from the responsibilities of wife and mother for a night (or a weekend), but it’s worth it for our sanity and peace of mind.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed, whether from big things — a troubled teen, job loss, car troubles, deadlines — or little things that pile up around you until it’s hard to see your way out.
But when my best friends get together for some girl time, it’s fascinating to realize we’re fighting the same battles, each on our own turf.
Some of us have children the same ages, and many of our experiences with them ring familiar. Knowing that everyone else’s 10-year-old daughter is sassy and exasperating (can we see a show of hands?) doesn’t make the problem go away, but it just feels better to commiserate with each other and even brainstorm parenting tactics.
When three of us realized our youngest children are the same age, we took a moment to imagine what life might look like when they graduate and leave home. Then we rejoiced that when that day comes we’ll explore a new stage in life together, with friends who are learning the same lessons in the same season.
1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us,
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Maybe the friends He gives us are part of that escape.
You are not alone. Whatever you’re facing, others have “been there, done that” or they may be in the same place right now. Encourage one another and nurture your friendships in all seasons.
When was your last girls’ night out? Could you schedule one this week? Where do you turn for encouragement?
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Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Dawn,
I don’t know what I’d do without my girl time. And, when I do take it, I always walk away wondering why I don’t do this more often?? God made us as beings who need fellowship and encouragement…especially us women. I believe it honors God when we make time for each other and it staves off the enemy who seeks to isolate us and destroy us. Thanks for the reminder and encouragement to make it a priority.
Blessings,
Bev
Dawn Camp says
Bev, I do the same. I go too long without girl time and then wonder what I was thinking!
Joanna @ Modern Ruth Project says
I believe 100% that God puts people in our lives that can encourage us and that we can encourage in turn. I would definitely not be the person I am today without my friends!
Dawn Camp says
Amen, sister! Many of my best decisions have been influenced by the advice and encouragement of a friend.
An says
Thank you, Dawn, for this wonderful posting this morning. Oh how we all need friends to walk this journey with us, to admonish and edify, to sing and laugh with. I really loved that you said that we find that we share the same battles when we get together, that we are not alone. I praise the Lord for being my friend and for every friend who loves and walks with me, especially on the days it has been hard for me to let them close. I thank Him for helping me to be a friend. May each of us have good friends to share this life with, to be with, to love 🙂
Dawn Camp says
An, it is so important to realize that we aren’t alone in our struggles. It just makes it easier, doesn’t it!
Michele Morin says
I just love the idea of being a “means of escape” for my friends! What a beautiful way of fulfilling our purpose as the body of Christ.
Dawn Camp says
Michele, this was the first time I saw that verse in this light and I love the idea that we might help God fulfill that purpose here.
Marty says
“…it’s fascinating to realize we’re fighting the same battles, each on our own turf.” Truer words never spoken. We need each other. Thank you for sharing these words today! 🙂
Dawn Camp says
And the insight we learn through our trials helps us comfort and advise others when they encounter the same!
JeanneTakenaka says
I’ve been blessed to be a part of a girl’s group. We celebrate birthdays, pray for each other, do the ups and downs of life together, and point each other to Jesus. I cannot imagine walking through life without them. We’ll be getting together next weekend to celebrate a birthday. I’m already looking forward to it. 🙂
Dawn Camp says
Jeanne, that sounds like a wonderfu blessing—enjoy that birthday celebration!
Rebecca Jones says
Having Christian friends is so important, a really good idea for young mothers to have someone going through the same things and breaking up the monotony. You could have a mother’s day once a month, or date night. Schedule it, it is that important. I’m with Bev here, God honors it and the enemy seeks to isolate and destroy us. Isolation and being shut off from friends and family is abuse. Let’s Shut the devil out, instead.
Dawn Camp says
My church girlfriends just decided to block off the first Thursday of each month as our girls’ night. Once I put it on my calendar, I’ll know to schedule other things around that date in the future.
Elle Ma says
Have moved and have lost all my friends…being 50 + makes it hard to find new close friends. I am also be most of the time! If not for my adult children and niece & nephews, I would never get out!
Beth Williams says
Ellen Ma,
Praying for God to send you some good friends. Perhaps you could join a Bible Study at a local church or a small women’s group.
Blessings 🙂
Dawn Camp says
Elle, I recently joined you in that 50+ group. Pursue your interests (reading, sewing, etc.) and hopefully you’ll make new friends who share them.
Beth Williams says
Dawn,
Girl time is essential to our well being. I have a group of women I used to work with and once a month we get together to share life-good & bad and to pray for each other. There are some women from church that do things together and pray for each other. I find it cathartic to release my burdens and hear of their problems. There are times when I’ve been there and can offer advice but mostly I pray for them. Love our girlfriends!
Blessings 🙂
Dawn Camp says
Beth, an outlet to share both the good and the bad is a wise and healthy thing. So many times we hold the bad inside and miss a chance to share our burdens with our sisters.