Friends of Worth

What makes a friend worth being a friend to? Are you worth it?

You matter because you matter to God – that’s what my pastor in my university’s town repeated every week. During the pandemic, I discovered my deepest fear – being alone. There’s nothing worse that feeling like you’re shrinking in a crowded room because no one is talking to you or cares to reach out to you – Extroverts. LOL.

Walk with me and reflect on the type of friend you are and the friends you need/have been graced with to “do life” with. How are they adding value to your life and what God is able to do through and in you and them? Let’s take a look…

Life happens.

Whether you’re getting ready for orientation at school (online or in person), or going back to work with new ways of carrying out your tasks – life happens. The entire world has been effected by the pandemic, and no one is exempt. Life happens and that’s that! People move away, friendships drift away, while new opportunities begin and new friendships form. You’ve got a choice to make – will life continue to happen with the same people/circumstances, or will you allow yourself to drift with the waves and adapt to the people/circumstances that come your way?

You’re not alone.

Doing life alone sucks and I extend some love and a virtual hug to anyone who has to do life alone. I hope you know you DO have at least One person to walk through life with. Rest assured, you’re never alone. Like a shepherd with their sheep, you can be alone in a crowd or by yourself and know that you’ve got a friend in Christ, the Good Shepherd ❤

Psalm 23:1-3 (AMP) says,

“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me];
I shall not want.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
He refreshes and restores my soul (life)…”

If you’ve never gone on a date with yourself, add this to your bucket list. It doesn’t matter where you go, but I advise that you go somewhere or do something you enjoy or want to try out. The main challenge: DO IT ON YOUR OWN. Going to a restaurant, AYCE sushi, walks, and a movie theatre alone brings its own anxieties and you’ll get stares, 100%. Trust me, it’s in those moments you actually get into your own head and realize how much God truly has you in His hands. Challenge yourself and try appreciate being in your alone-ness without asking for anyone else’s company or opinion. JUST DO IT! You’ll be grateful you did!

Find a community to celebrate victories with.

The day we discovered plant-based Drumsticks!!!

Now that you know you’re not meant to do life along, call up 2 or 3 friends and get a video call going! If you live within the area, meet up and practice physical distancing ❤ . Having a group or community of people to walk through life with you, to mentor and encourage you!

To the friends who had been with me since day 1, you know my struggles and pain, thank you for sticking with me and not leaving me behind.
Kate Janelle Padrinas, (Here’s to the Friends who Stayed, Thought Catalog)

Celebrate good times, come on! 😉 Seriously.

Pray for courage to ride the waves.

Choose to be courageous, take risks, allow yourself to adapt to the waves around you with no reserve.

This is much easier said than done. Trusting God means riding the waves, even when you’re scared; it means being like Peter and choosing to grab hold of Christ’s hand and trusting that He will help you walk uncharted water.