"Ally"

When you ask how someone’s doin’,

And they just say I’m fine,

You never know what’s stewin’,

In their heart and in their mind.

‘Cause the struggle they are hiding,

Or the battle that they fight,

Is not what they’re confiding,

Keep it buried out of sight.

And really you can’t blame ‘em,

‘Cause some you cannot trust,

Someone who’ll defame ‘em,

And honesty’s a bust.

But we all need somebody,

Who cares and who is safe,

Compassion they embody,

And their counsel doesn’t chafe.

They won’t judge us or excuse,

But speak the truth in love,

Their words are something we can use,

And fit us like a glove.

So pray you find that ally,

A friend who’s really true,

And when you’re trying to get by,

They’re always there for you.

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

When God gifts us with a friend the grace runs both ways. We give and receive and so do they. But if the grace persists and deepens it typically means several things. One of these is that this person has been sent by the Lord to help us through difficult challenges. They are safe and it’s good to confide in them. A second possibility is that there is a partnership with a divine assignment. This means God is calling you to help someone together in a way you could never accomplish on your own. Follow the grace.

Lord, connect us to the right people, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Tim Cox, used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.