Missing a Biblical Buddy

Have you ever had a close friend move away? It doesn’t seem to get easier whether I’m six or fifty-six. I still go through a period of mourning when a sister-friend leaves town.

One of my dearest friends, Donna, moved away to another state this month. Donna and I had a special bond. We laughed together, cried together, lunched together, and even though she was not a shopper, we shopped together. She did that for me because she knew I liked it. That’s a selfless friend. We knew everything about each other, but still loved each other anyway. We showed each other Jesus’ unconditional love.

But what made our friendship even more divine was that we were prayer partners. Over the course of eight years, we prayed on our knees for our husbands, our children, our friends, and our country. We saw God figuratively move mountains through our prayers, and it was amazing to see Him work. The prayers of two praying women are powerful (Matthew 18:19-20).

Do you have someone you can be transparent enough to pray with?

My friend, in every sense, was a Biblical Buddy. What is that? It is someone who fits the description of a friend in the Bible.

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity” (Proverbs 17:17).

“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

“Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (Proverbs 27:6).

“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

Who is your Biblical buddy?

Because I don’t have sisters in my life, Donna and I were like sisters. She was there for me in my darkest hour. She was faithful. She also sharpened me by being brutally honest at times. She jokingly said she didn’t have a filter. That was true, but I preferred that. I would much rather have a truth-teller friend than one who had a hidden agenda, or who would tell me what I wanted to hear.

It’s different in these times than it was when I was six. I never saw my six-year-old friend again, even though I occasionally wonder what happened to her. Today we have cell phones, email, and the internet to stay connected. Donna and I have already cried at least three times on the phone together because we miss each other so much. We start out strong in our conversations, but end in a blubbering mess!

But I continue to pray a difficult prayer for my dear sister, because I don’t want to let her go. I am praying she will make another Biblical buddy, a divine bond with a friend that is special as the friendship we have. I am also praying that for myself, because I know how powerful it is to have a trustworthy friend you can pray with.

I am thankful for the years of friendship Donna and I have had. I know we will continue to be friends. She is one of those friends for life, but I am realistic enough to know it will be different. It always is. But I am counting the days until we get together for a visit. Because we’re Biblical buddies, when we reunite, it will be like we were never apart.

If you have a Biblical buddy, cherish that friendship, and thank them for their divine love. A precious friendship like that only comes around every once in a while and can never be taken for granted. Have you hugged your Biblical buddy lately? (LBW)