This is going to sound so crazy and weird. But when I was a freshman I spent some time with an acquaintance of mine and I decided I really wanted to be her friend. I prayed about it. I remember praying on the Brown Line riding to work downtown Chicago. I can picture that one prayer so vividly. I prayed that we could be friends. Well, we weren’t really close friends for a few years. She was more of a friend of a friend. It wasn’t until the end of my time in college that we really got to know each other. Today she is one of the friends I have kept up with since graduating college.
That’s the first time I realized that God does listen to prayers about friendships. You might not have a friend over night, but I really do think that prayer is to a friendship like water is to a plant. I needed this reminder because I have never seen so much conflict in relationships. There’s division over COVID information, politics, racial issues… There’s so many things right now that can create conflict in relationships. Will you pray? I’m with you. Sometimes I have no idea what to pray. Emotions are high. Conflict can be painful! Here’s what I’ve been doing: pray scripture over your relationships.
There’s four ways your relationships can change because of prayer.
1. If you’re lonely pray for a friend who is following after Jesus. Because two is better than one (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).
2. If you have conflict with a friend – pray that you can be humble, kind, meek, patient, forgiving, loving, and that ultimately peace will win over that conflict. That’s straight from Colossians 3:12-14.
3. Pray for a change of heart in yourself and in your friend instead of seeking revenge (1 Peter 3:9, Proverbs 20:22).
4. Pray for your friends when they have challenges that come their way. When God shows up the joy will be yours too (James 5:16).
— this could be an opportunity for God to really grow your faith and watch Him work. Our God is relational. He loves redemption, unity, peace, and His kids getting along.
Here’s More Scripture to Pray Over Your Friendships:
Psalm 133:1 says “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.”
2 Corinthians 13:11, “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Romans 12:18, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
James 5:16, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Thanks for stopping by! I hope this was encouraging. Friendships are important! God cares.
<3 Hannah Lynn
Hannah is a radio/podcast host, blogger, and mental health therapist who loves Jesus and fashion. Her work revolves around betrayal trauma and the eldest daughter population.
