I can honestly say I’ve found a friend in Jesus—even in life’s most difficult trials. He reminds me of His presence gently, sometimes through the lyrics of an old hymn. Recently, I got to experience the sweetness and closeness of this friendship.
I sat dozing in and out with the sounds of the beeping machines in the Pediatric ICU. The lines of the song What a Friend We Have in Jesus ran through my head.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer
A friend so faithful. That’s what our Jesus is to us, and I understood that more than ever as I walked the road that no parent ever wants to walk—watching their child go through major surgery and a painful recovery. Two years ago, we were bringing home a baby we had just met hours before, who looked nothing like us. A child who didn’t share our DNA but had all of our heart in no time. Our sweet Kendrick. And today we sit watching that same baby Kendrick, whom we now know inside and out, a hilarious, joyful two-year-old, suffer through a painful trial.
In these situations, we can jump to asking God why, getting angry or blaming Him for the trials we face. As parents, we want to be in complete control, but that’s not our job. In this season, Jesus showed me how He wants to be my friend. The friendship I have with Jesus taught me how to be Kendrick’s mom, even when I had no idea how to be. There were far too many times I didn’t feel good enough, prepared enough, or strong enough to be a great parent. But my friendship with Jesus was the rock I could run to. When I had nowhere else to go or no one else who understood the emotions in my heart, I had Jesus, my friend.
God helped me find this Scripture as a reminder that He is always with us no matter what we walk through, and to remember He has been by my side. He’s the creator of the Universe and calls us friend! He is always with me and has been my comforter through Kendrick’s scary journey.
I will be with you
when you pass through the waters,
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not overwhelm you.
You will not be scorched
when you walk through the fire,
and the flame will not burn you.
Isaiah 43:2 HCSB
Maybe you’re passing through deep waters, like I recently was. He wants to meet you and be a friend in your sorrow and pain. Maybe you’re unsure of what it even looks like to find a friend in Jesus. Open your heart and ask Him to show you the way. He already knows our every weakness, so why not take it to the Lord in prayer? I can honestly say that I have found a friend in Jesus, and I hope you can say that too! He’s the best friend you’ll ever have. He can bring you unexplainable peace in this world!
