The Story of a Good Friend

I was talking to a really close friend today, and it reminded me of God's promise to keep me running towards Him. And I think its time I tell yall what this friend means to me and how much they have impacted my faith.

2013, in August, an exchange student arrived from Germany. They were staying at a close family friend's house, so we went to the same church, and saw each other often if we met for lunch or strategy games or sledding... whatever. The first time I met her was at the neighborhood's lake, where my friend, her, and I had a crazy water fight then our two families picknicked on the shore. What I didn't know at the time was how God was gonna use her to grow me to the next step in my faith.

An atheist; she didn't know God. She know of Him, but never started a personal relationship with Him; to this day I still pray for her salvation. What astounded me was her love for people; she strove to make everyone happy, and always knew how to make others smile. She was quiet and respectful, and full of mirth. It confused me so much; she lived better than so many Christians, and followed a lot of the same conservative guidelines I did. I never really understood, at the time, how an unbeliever could be so caring and selfless... what was the point? 

School progressed, which she struggled with. I got the awesome opportunity to help her with math where I could, and we started texting most days. Sad to say, I wasn't a very good friend. Overbearing and too eager to see her get to know Jesus, I was always finding ways to interject Jesus into the conversations. This, I think, turned her off from the gospel. However, this period of time was one of uncertainty: my relationship with Jesus started a few years earlier, but hadn't grown hardly any. No changed life was shown in me; I was still a churchy kid who had it all together, and I still sinned behind the scenes. I knew Jesus wanted to lead me on, but I wasn't really sure how to take the next step.

She asked a few questions about my faith, and in addition to the questions I had, I began to seek answers. God gave me some awesome wisdom and insight into His word, and showed me what I needed to know. In January, God showed me I needed to stop living for Him, and start living with Him, so I began to change tactics; instead of trying to tell her the gospel in new ways, I'd show her what it meant to be loved by Jesus. I did my best to become a better friend, and to help her understand Jesus's love. She ended up leaving the country in June, with a Bible I gave her.

In my own mind, Jesus used her as a tool for my own spiritual maturity. See, God gave me His heart for her. I can't really explain it beyond pointing to Hosea; she wouldn't ever love Jesus, and yet I was desperate to see her find Him anyways. So I did all that was in my capacity to love her like the Friend I knew I had in Jesus. Every day I longed for her salvation, and my heart ached for her because of the hardship I knew she faced with grades and friends and all that she shared with me. Through her, I learned how God loves this WORLD, and the immense love He loves it with. I got just a taste of His love for just one person, and it almost overwhelmed me. Many nights were spent crying out to God to relieve the burden of the desire for her salvation from me. 

Also, throughout her stay, God showed me I had a gift of empathy. To know what others are feeling without them telling me. Its wierd, because if I am attuned to it and I pay attention, walking down the halls is an emotional roller coaster. Most people in our world emit their emotions; I am one of the few that recieve them. My mood fluctuates do to weather, those who are surrounding me, and many other things. Its wierd. 

To make use of my new faith and empathy, God gave me many opportunities to speak life into those that hurt. I quickly learned that relieving someone of their burden means to accept their burden on your own shoulders. So I gave those burdens to Jesus, for He has all the strength we could ever hope for. I carry the pieces of many people's hearts with me wherever I go, but they no longer weigh on me because Jesus has MY heart. I now know, at leats for this period of my life, God put me on this earth for the encouragement of others. I strive to make others smile, dwell on Jesus, and remember His promises everyday.

I was very sad when my friend had to leave. We still keep in touch via social media, and it seems like we have both matured a lot. We don't joke around as often anymore, but rather make sure the other is doing ok and just enjoy talking, because it doesn't happen often. She remains an athiest, but her life is changing in ways that I hope mean God is working on her. I've long been ready to rejoice with her in her salvation. And I may never know if she finds Jesus or not; God may hide that from me till I join Him in His presence. But whether or not she chooses to seek Him, I know He used her as an extremely effective tool to sharpen and grow my faith.