Friends Are Known in Trouble

My life is closely intertwined with construction, and I like to take examples from there that clearly show what invisible things from the spiritual world look like. In construction there are certain laws and rules that cannot be violated. Not everything that may seem solid to me is such. And not everything that looks weak is actually weak. Having worked for many years with plans and statistical calculations, I have subconsciously learned to feel construction and notice many things that you will not pay attention to. But when I encounter an unfamiliar technology, then I become very interested in understanding its structure and patterns. For example, when laying load-bearing structures we are accustomed to working with iron and concrete, and this has already become a classic approach, but when I learn that there are people who instead of iron invented fiberglass, I strain greatly, not knowing how to perceive this. I do not undertake to judge the inventors of these technologies, but time and trials will show whether it is worth dealing with this material.

I know how to build large houses, and the bigger the object, the more interesting it is. But when the time came and I began to erect a small dacha for myself in the garden, I encountered the fact that many of my knowledge in big construction in no way suits garden houses. And when, to the surprise of all neighbors, I began to construct something similar to a bomb shelter, then, besides experienced ridicule, I also managed to make many mistakes that taught me something. A house must be protected on all sides from water, wind and cold. But most importantly—it must be under God's protection.

When the garden construction was finished, everything looked like the neighbors', but in my little house the foundation holds the roof, which may be useful in the near future.

In our region lately there are frequent hurricanes and hail. Twice there were even small earthquakes. Trees fall, tiles fly off roofs, power lines are torn, and this is only the beginning of interesting events. And each time I am curious to know how things are in our gardening community. Whose greenhouse is now lying on neighboring plots? The Lord keeps what is dedicated to Him and built according to all rules and laws. And when you see everything whole and unharmed, then you thank God for wonderful protection.

From childhood I knew such a proverb: "Friends are known in trouble." And it is not without meaning in Christian love and friendship. Any normal construction occurs under favorable conditions, in which it is difficult to determine how this will hold during a hurricane. But wise engineers make calculations before proceeding to erect a building. So the Lord gave us His plans and calculations, in which He sequentially and quite clearly described what our relationships should be, and what they should not be. However, no matter how we build our friendship, there will always come that day that will test our strength and show us our strengths and weaknesses.

One should not bring closer the time of tribulation and arrange artificial disasters to test yourself and your friend. This world is full of all kinds of unexpected events, and they will come anyway without our invitation. Everything will be tested.

I do not want to boast of my strength or be confident in the strength of my dear friends. I do not know who I really am, and what my friend is made of. But I know one very important rule for all types of construction: if I perform all work according to plan, taking into account all dimensions, prescriptions and norms, then I should not worry about the strength of the building. I will not have to answer for its strength during natural disasters.

The same rule operates in our friendship. If we build relationships according to all God's prescriptions, taking into account all commandments, requirements and advice of the Lord, asking for wisdom and blessing on our love and friendship, then we should not worry about whether our love will withstand coming events. We will not have to worry about how a friend will manifest himself in trouble that may suddenly come.

While there are spirits of wickedness in the heavenly places in this world, we should not relax or show negligence in building strong relationships with friends. We are at war, and the enemy can arrange an ambush where you least expect it. But the Lord has foreseen all the possibilities of the enemy of the soul and described all laws capable of resisting attacks from outside.

And each time when another hurricane of human passions comes, and someone's roof is blown off, and someone's brain is blown beyond the reasonable, you carefully watch yourself and pray for your friend more than usual, wanting to understand how this trial will end. And as a rule, you see that relationships were strong, and nothing damaged them. And after such problems our friendship becomes even stronger, even deeper and more trusting.

Of course, there can be disappointments, but they too teach us what was wrong.

I remember a case when during our trading in Yugoslavia in the nineties our friends were robbed by our own "friends," leaving them without things, money and documents. When we learned about this, being at this time in Hungary, our surprise knew no bounds, and we did everything possible to help restore those losses that the victims of trust experienced. We forgot about our profit and began to help people who found themselves in trouble. This brought us closer even more firmly, and this friendship has been preserved until now, having passed through other trials as well.

I know cases when friends became enemies, and this happens where relationships are built not according to the spirit, but according to the flesh.

When I did not yet know God, I built friendship according to concepts. And I saw how my buddies easily left, deceived or betrayed me in difficult situations. My ideas about friendship were strongly shaken. But I met Jesus and He gave a new understanding of such relationships.

Studying this science, I decided for myself to be a faithful friend no matter what. I ask the Lord to bless and keep me in the choice "to always remain a friend," and something unusual happens in my head. I become a friend forever. And then it is so easy to build relationships with friends and navigate complex trials. I prefer to err on the side of love and friendship, and this is always the most correct decision, although sometimes not everyone agrees with me. But I make this choice for myself and live as I decided. This is not noticeable in my appearance, but is kept in my heart, and in this state I want to get into Eternity. Jesus taught me this. And I would rather err on the side of mercy and good and suffer losses, but I can be honest in my friendship.

The greatest fear in me is caused by the thought that I will once not stand in my friendship and love and will disappoint those who love me. Better to die than to sin so. And with these fears I come to Jesus, and He calms me, showing His wounds. I understand that I did not invent something new, but only follow Him who is always faithful to His friendship.

And I also understand that my attitudes about friendship should be correct, because God's principles lie at their foundation. God does not call me to be a faithful friend to the servants of the devil. But when the Lord gives me His son or daughter, wanting to see our friendship, then God's laws come into action and build between us what will definitely withstand any trouble.

1. Please read: 1 Pet. 4:8-10; Prov. 17:17; 22:3; 27:12; Ps. 45:2-3; 126:1; 1 Cor. 3:9-17; 4:1-2; Prov. 14:1; 17:3; 18:24; 20:27; 21:10; 27:10,17; Matt. 7:26-27; John 13:34-35; Rom. 5:8; Song 7:11 in light of this topic.

2. What did you understand from this topic?

3. What examples from the Bible came to your mind?

4. Has your friendship with people ever been tested?

5. Do you think if you build correct relationships with correct people, being a correct person, will everything be correct with you?

6. Are friends always known in trouble?

7. Does the prospect of being a bad friend please you? How can this be prevented?

8. Will there be a quarrel with a friend if he does not exist? Or maybe it is not worth making friends so as not to lose them?

9. What should I do if my friend turned out to be a faithful friend, and I am not? Or vice versa?

10. Will the Lord test the love and friendship of His children? Jer. 17:10.

11. Gold tested by fire—is this something good that we should have? Rev. 3:18.

12. Does the Lord want to see His disciples faithful in love and friendship?

13. What is needed to pass the trials of friendship and maintain faithfulness in this?

14. Can I myself decide what to be in my trouble or in the trouble of my friend? Or does it not depend on me?

15. What should I do if our relationship with a friend is wonderful, but trouble does not come? Should we create it ourselves?