When I think of my friendships, I think of these things: Texting each other back, showing up for each other, catching up over a meal, asking for help when we need it, and asking if they need anything, even when it doesn’t look like they need anything. 

When I think of my friendships, I think of the friendships that I’ve maintained over several years. Those friendships will always have a special place in my heart. No matter how long the time stretches, those friendships will always be there, like we can pick up and resume our friendship at any moment. 

I think of the friendships that have come and gone—whether with friends that were close for a moment or acquaintances. While it can be heartbreaking to let some friendships go, I can also look back on these friendships with fondness and gratitude that they were right for the moment. 

There are friendships that were right for that moment, that particular time in your life. There are friendships that will come and go. There are friendships that will see the worst and best moments in your life. There are friendships that seemed right for you in that period of your life, but looking back, weren’t the greatest. There are friendships that taught you what a good, loyal and supportive friend looks like. There are the friends that will stay by your side—whether that’s halfway across the country or five minutes away.  

On page 24, Emily Buchanan compares friendship to mountains: “Mountains resemble friendships: they have peaks, valleys and good sunsets in between.” God gives us good people. He gives us people who come and go. Jesus was someone who understood this. In the Gospels, we read about how Jesus was intentional in His friendships. He walked closely with His friends, taking each step with honesty, love, support and vulnerability. 

Your friendships matter. When you think about your friendships you’ve maintained over the years, what comes to mind? Do you think of the friendships that have withstood distance and time? Do you think of the “for the moment” friendships? Do you think of the friendships that slipped away? All those friendships matter, because they all shaped you to be the person you are today. 

God gives us the right people in the right seasons. We can trust Him through it all, and we can remember the friend that we have in Jesus.

Illustration by Lan Truong