Christian Writers Circle

Faithful Friend
by Judy Hitson

Pr. 27:6a AMP Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern],…

The words in this key verse hit to the core of my heart as I reflect on a precious sister in Christ who discipled me as a young born again Christian over 40 years ago. I first met her in her home where I was invited to a Precept Bible Study, another friend of mine was leading. In those days, there were many changes in my life coming from a legalistic background of Christianity. That is, I knew about Christ but I did not know Him in a personal relationship. Following rules and regulations of my former denomination, I thought I was a Christian. I believed Jesus Christ was the Savior of the world, but when asked if He was my personal Savior, I couldn’t say that until I received the Holy Spirit at my second birth.

From that time forward, God blessed me with women in prayer groups and Bible studies who poured God’s Word and ways into my life.  

The faithful friend I’m writing about was amazing to come alongside me on a regular basis with phone calls and visits. She was a woman of the Word and would share Bible verses that hit to the core of my being with issues that came up in my life. I would share my personal struggles as a wife, mother, nurse, etc. and somehow God impressed her with His word that applied to the very struggle I was having at the time.

She had a servant heart that reminded me of Jesus and I saw Christ in her the hope of glory as we see in Col. 1:27. Here are a couple examples I’ll share: I remember a time at home with a sick child, my faithful friend called to see how I was doing. In tears, I explained my situation with a sick child and needing to make a doctor’s appointment but didn’t know if I could handle it with three young children. She dropped what her plans were for the day and came to help me. Another time, it was 2 A.M. when I was in labor with my fifth child. My husband was out of town to be with his mother in the hospital. My faithful friend agreed if I went into labor while my husband was gone, that she would take me to the hospital and she did.

Now as our verse says, Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], I think of the following example. It is vivid in my mind today. A friend of my husband and me got us a bronze statue of a naked man and woman embracing. I saw this as a beautiful work of art. My faithful friend had been praying with me about marriage and family at that time. When she saw the statue she said, “It might be good to get rid of that statue. It could be a temptation for your husband and is not a holy object for your children to see.” Ouch! I had been reading in the Bible about things to utterly destroy and sensed the Holy Spirit nudged me of old things in our home to destroy. The statue was one of them. My faithful friend was a blessing to correct me out of love and concern as Pr. 27:6 says.

Closing Prayer: Thank You Lord Jesus for faithful friends on earth and for You as our Best Friend. Amen.