“There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)
Joy was Meagan's fifth-grade teacher. Meagan flourished in the class, and soon Joy and Meagan's mom, Rose, became good friends. That year, Rose shared that she was in the middle of a divorce and that it was the best thing for her family. The two ladies talked constantly, and Joy was there as much as she could be for Rose. Eventually, Rose’s divorce was finalized, and her mom moved in with her to help with the children until Rose had put her life back together.
The following year, Joy's husband decided he was going away to school without Joy. This news, of course, was very troubling. Soon after, Joy found out that her husband was having an affair, and his intentions were not to return to their marriage. He was creating another life for himself. He had left Joy.
Joy’s world crumbled. She was devastated! How could this happen to her? She felt as though she had no one in the world, that she was utterly alone. But God in His mercy had already placed the perfect friend and confidant in Joy’s life. Rose was the ideal person to help Joy navigate this crisis.
It reminds me of Esther 4:14, where Mordecai reminded Esther that the crisis they were in might be the very reason God had strategically placed her in the position of Queen. God knew that His children would need rescuing from evil hands, and He had put her in a position of influence to change the course of history.
Rose helped Joy in every way she could, encouraging and strengthening her friend. Soon, Joy was able to put her life together again. She moved out of her little apartment and purchased a home. Joy started seeing a Christian therapist and, little by little, she began to see life differently, even better than when she was married. In time, she had a new vision for her life.
Proverbs 29:18 tells us, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” In the moment, we often forget that God is with us, and He always has a plan to see us through. We can have hope in Him in any crisis. For a time, Joy forgot that her source of life is from Jesus. She almost made the fatal mistake of putting her whole trust in a man, and this would’ve had a devastating result. However, the Lord provided a helpful therapist and an empathetic friend, Rose, at just the right time. Joy’s life was finally looking sunny again.
There was so much laughter between the two ladies, so much togetherness, that people were amazed their friendship was so new. Eventually, Rose reunited with her ex-husband, and Joy married a man who puts God first and makes her feel like she is the only woman in the world.
There's a song that says:
"God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me."1
Joy had no way of knowing that Rose was put in her life when everything seemed fine and happy. She thought she was helping out a mother of one of her fifth-grade students. Never had she imagined that God had placed Rose in her life to one day give her life support. Proverbs 27:9 says, “…a sweet friendship refreshes the soul."2
Call to Action
God is our ultimate friend. He loves us with an infinite love. He knows what you need before you even know, and He has made provisions for you. He promises:
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:19
Take Him at His Word. Trust Him with your needs.
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture taken from the King James Version.
- Moen, D. (1990). God Will Make a Way [Song]. On Eternal God [Album]. Integrity’s Hosanna! Music
- Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. NavPress, 2002.
