Needing to Be Knownنموونە

There is a widespread misbelief that our relationships have to be frictionless. If we argue or disagree, we can be pressured to cut all ties. There is a danger that comes with only surrounding yourself with people who walk, talk, act, and look like you. The least harmful consequence of this mindset is that your life will be boring. However, the most frightening outcome is the lack of growth, conviction, and empathy.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

If I had to agree with everything my friends ever said and did, I would have no friends. Disagreements are a part of any relationship, and the key is to have mutual respect for one another. A friend who loves me will help me up when I fall and hold me accountable despite our differences. Are you that friend to another?

Having friends who disagree with me has made my faith stronger because it has been challenged. I have had to develop critical thinking skills to better understand why I hold the beliefs I do. I have gained respect and understanding for who they are and the reasons behind their convictions. Having friends with other convictions does not mean I need to compromise mine. Creating community is not about surrounding yourself with yes people; it is about creating a culture of honesty, love, and vulnerability.

Challenge: Next time you have a chance to share your convictions, don’t give in to the pressure of what you think people want to hear. Instead, be open and see how they respond. If it is not met with love and compassion, then you may be in the wrong setting. Sometimes God uses friction to reveal who is really for us.