Time Written byAnita Ford

God gives us time and a community to navigate through the trials and tribulations life brings our way. You do not have to walk through life alone. But, one of the hardest parts about developing a sense of community is being vulnerable to someone else. Getting to know someone new may seem hard at first, but you never what God has in store for you by developing new a friendship.

Speaking of faithful friends, one of my favorite stories in the Bible is the story of Jesus Healing and Forgiving the Paralytic. Back in Jesus’ day the people came from all over to hear Jesus preach. Imagine a massive crowd of people who came hungry to receive the word, but they were all inside a one or two room home. Since the architecture of homes was different in Jesus’ day, what a wonderful sight it must’ve been to see many people praising God despite the space of the building in which He was preaching. The news traveled all around and the people had heard of all the miracles Jesus was performing. The people were eager to enter a new phase of their lives and they knew Jesus could help them. Many people came to see Jesus so they could be set free of illnesses they had suffered from for many years. Right there in the middle of these wonderful souls seeking healing,we see a group of faithful friends who want to see their friend healed. What I love most about this story is the friends saw all of the obstacles in their way, and they could’ve given up, but they chose to find a way. The friends knew there was no way they would be able to reach Jesus through the main floor of the building.

But, through faith and determination, the men decided to lower their friend down through the roof. Back in Jesus’ day the roofs were made of mud and leaves. Imagine the men digging their way through to make a hole in the roof so they would be able to lower their friend down to Jesus. In this moment, I can’t fathom how much gratitude the man must’ve possessed for his friends. They could’ve easily given spoke doubt into the situation, but they continued to move forward knowing that Jesus was going to heal their paralyzed friend. I believe it’s one thing to say you have faith, but something wonderful happens when you put faith into action. The rest of the story continues and true paralyzed man is healed and forgiven, but Jesus is also in awe of the faith his friends expressed during this time.

So, what do your friendships look like? Are they surface level? Are they deep? Are they making more deposits than withdrawals? Are you willing to be a listening ear instead of a vessel filled with advice? Dig deep in your relationships. I encourage you to pray for your friends and family. The truth is, a lot of people you ’ re doing life with will not tell you everything they’re going through, and that’s where taking the time listen to the people you love comes into action. We are blessed to do life alongside many amazing people. My prayer is that you always realize every single person on this earth is a gift from God.