Happy Monday Girlfriends!
Last month, as I was working on my new website, I read over and listened to many of my older blog posts. When I came across this one, I felt it was worth posting again.
If you are new to my blog, (welcome, friend!) then this will be new to you!
In the video, I share three tools to help when our feelings get hurt by our closest friends. It happens in every friendship at one time or another. I hope they are as helpful to you as they have been to me. I’m just sharing what I have learned through my own experiences.
A person’s wisdom yields patience;
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. – Proverbs 19:11 (NIV)
We do want to grow wiser as we go along and bearing the good fruit of that wisdom in relationships with our loved ones is life-changing. It’s part of the abundant life we are supposed to be living! As Lysa TerKeurst says, ‘Imperfect Progress’ is what we are after – not perfection.
I hope you all have a great start to the week!
Love,
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven,
but dwelling on it separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9 (NLT)
Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend! Proverbs 17:9 (MSG)
9 thoughts on “Consider The Source {when a friend hurts you}”
Laura, this message is timeless! I am currently walking though a very difficult season with my biological sister. I have learned to use the coping skills you described. God is good all the time! 🙏 Our Almighty God sent wise spiritual counselors into my path to help me shoulder this breach in our sisterhood relationship. This experience and rich learning throughout this season has allowed me to embrace the Holy Spirit as my guide to move forward with my ministry and my God given purpose! This is what I learned and what Jesus prompted me to say to my sister: “Sister, I love you unconditionally. I forgive your behavior. However, this does not give you permission to continue this behavior towards me.” Now, I rebuke Satan in the name of Jesus Christ each and every time I see her and when this incident returns to my mind. Yes, imperfect progress is God’s gift to me as I stand on the freedom that our merciful Father gives to us when we stand on His Word with love and accountability! Laura, your sisterhood is timeless and your words are God breathed! I love you ❤️ Linda
Linda – thank you for sharing this with me! I know how hard this must have been for you. Isn’t God so incredibly faithful? He is teaching you and I many important lessons and giving us the opportunity to keep growing! xo
Laura,
I have ceased to be surprised by the insights God brings into your life and the unwavering candor in which you share them. Surely, as women, we have all experienced a slight or even deep hurt at the handsof a loving and trusted friend. This was the case for me many, many year ago. A deep, unsuspecting anger was beneath the surface of someone I loved, was sure loved me, but then our bond was broken by this chasm. I would say this, God can redeem any situation, I truly believe it. I would also say, that sometimes it takes a long, long time for that healing to come. In the desert, through the pain, God can teach us, grow us, discipline us, mature us and help us discern who we are in Him and how we forecast that to the world. The relationship with my friend was never the same, and that’s o.k. too. God did bring peace into the heart of this relationship and a deep healing through a tender time of closure as she neared the end of her earthly life. I look forward to seeing her again in God’s time. Praise be to our God and Father that he allows us to be pliable, clay in the Potter’s hand.
Peace,
Jenni
Jenni – Your words blessed me today. Thank you. I am sorry about the changes with your good friend, but thankful God has grown you through the experience. xo
Ms. Laura!!! This really spoke to me. It’s really what I needed to hear as I navigate being a newlywed.
Mrs. Bowser!!!! Congratulations! ❤️❤️ Thank you so much for reaching out. Praying for a long and happy marriage for you both! ❤️❤️
Hi Laura. I just subscribed to your blog two days ago and sat down to listen to this message early this morning. I have been down this path so often with “friends” who have hurt me over the years. Your coping skills are so true. When I reflect on some of those situations it was either me or the other person who was going through a dark moment in time. I cannot wait for you to come and speak to our ladies’ group in May. This message is timeless and applies to everyone at some point. Thank you for putting yourself out there and being so transparent. Have a blessed day. 💕🌸🎀
Thank you, Joni! I can’t wait to serve with you in May! xoxo
DearestLaura, I was scrolling through your blogs and hadn’t seen this one before and the title caught my eye. Thank you for sharing this story. It was so timely for me. I recently had a similar incident through texting where one person was posing as my sister and both she and my other sister were laughing at me unbeknownst to me. When I learned what had happened I was devastated. Of course, like you, they didn’t realize this would hurt me in that moment because of other things going on in my life at that time. Thank you for the wonderful insight you’ve given. I just got off the phone with my one sister and things are better because of how I’m viewing it.