Never Stop Loving

Why is it that we put so much stock in what other people think of us? Yes, God created us to need one another, to love one another, and be loved by one another. And yes, loving involves caring about what the other person thinks. Yet, when love is reciprocated, what he/she thinks isn't a concern, because you know he/she loves you. And if it is a Christ-like and Christ-based love, (which hopefully it is) then you can have the confidence that even when things are rough, that other person still loves you and that you still matter to him/her. And I think that that knowledge is at times even sweeter than the simple fact that the other person loves you.

I have this friend that I met my freshman year in college. At the time, she was the best friend I ever had. We were nothing alike and had no business being friends, except that God put us together. I felt safer, more accepted, more loved, and better understood in our friendship than I had in any other previous friendship. We helped each other through some tough times, and went through some crazy things together. We had our rough patches (as any friendship that is honoring of God and bringing glory to Him will--the enemy doesn't like relationships that work like they should), but through them all there was a mutual understanding that she and I loved each other and that was never going to change. We spurred one another on towards righteousness, we were constantly pointing each other towards Christ, and we were always sharing with one another what He was teaching us.

Then over the course of time things changed. The single road that we had walked together over the last two years (and sometimes carried one another on) began to split and turn into two. She made some choices that weren't the wisest and began to be very defensive about everything. No longer could we share our hearts with one another, for they were no longer both beating for Christ as they once had. Yet I continued to pursue our friendship, to encourage her, and to try to love her like Christ does. However, when two roads diverge, be it ever so slightly at first, at some point they will have diverged to the point where they are headed in completely different directions, and a major detour on one or the other road would have to occur for them to cross once more.

Sadly, her road has diverged from all of our mutual friends and she refuses at this point to come back and meet us. While we do our best to bridge the gap, our devotion to the Master of the roads compels us to continue to follow His road. He is wise and loving and knows what is best. And as He can see the entire road and not just this length of the journey, He may see a point down the road when she accepts His hand of forgiveness and grace, and our roads will once again merge.

Until that time, I am left here brokenhearted over my loss. But even more brokenhearted for my friend who has no idea that the road she is on leads to destruction...or if she does, she simply doesn't care. Brokenhearted for who she once was and who she could be again. And brokenhearted that who she is now won't let me reach out to her. So here I am mourning for what was, broken for what is, and hoping for what will be.

Hoping? Yes. Despite the pain, the tears, the sleepless nights, and the broken relationships, I am still hoping. Praying that one day she will wake up and let God back onto the throne of her life. That she will realize that all I want to do is love her and that all He wants to do is heal her. Praying that she will jump from the road to destruction to the road to redemption once more, and that we will once again have sweet fellowship as we follow the Master along His way. Even if she never speaks to me again, I will take 1 Samuel 12:23 to be my verse, when it says "As for me, I will certainly not sin against the LORD by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right." I will continue to love her, continue to pray for her, and continue to hope that God in His grace will once again pull her from the miry pit and set her feet firmly on a rock.

Never stop praying my friends. For anyone. No one is beyond help, and no one is beyond the reach of the One who stretched out His arms and died. My friend will be wooed by Him once more. Whether I get to be a part of that or a part of her life after that happens is secondary to her being once again on His road, following His ways. Never forget that the salvation and restoration of another is more important that your personal comfort and desires. 2 Samuel 14:14 says, "All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. That is why God tries to bring us back when we have been separated from him. He does not sweep away the lives of those he cares about – and neither should you!" We must continue to spill out our lives for others, that they would be saved and restored. So keep hoping. Keep praying. Never stop loving.