A Prayer about Friends Finishing Well
See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. (Heb. 3:12–14 NIV)
Dear Jesus, I’m so grateful for the dear friends you’ve woven into my life. Since I’m an introvert, the journey of investing my heart in long-term relationships has required, and still requires, a lot of your grace—grace that you’ve been faithful to supply.
I’ve already gripped the handle of a couple of friends’ caskets, and other friends will do the same for me one day. More than ever, I want us to finish well together in the gospel. What will this look like and what will it take, Jesus?
My temptation is to treat my easiest friendships like a broken-in pair of Birkenstock sandals— I just enjoy them without much thought or effort. It’s a great gift to have a few friends who can finish each other’s sentences, endure one another’s jokes, appreciate each other’s quirks, and accept one another’s weaknesses. Surely this is a gospel gift.
Yet, Jesus, we’re still foolish people, capable of acting out in very destructive ways, prone to wander, easy targets for temptation. With all of my being, I trust in the grip of your grace and the security of your bride. But your Word is so very clear that continuance in gospel faith is a sign of a real faith. That doesn’t scare me, but it does sober me.
Help us know how to hold each other accountable for believing the gospel. Help us take each other’s heart struggles seriously. Help us never to minimize or marginalize the deceitfulness and hardening power of sin. Help us know how to preach the gospel to our own hearts daily, and to each other, until today gives way to the day of your longed-for return. I pray in your all glorious name.
Amen.