I’ve never been more sure that we were built for life with our Best Girls!!

There is a famous song quote that says it so well “When I’m With You, I’m Standing With an Army.”

These are powerful words from the ever-classy, Ellie Golding..

The Bible also supports this truth:

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Recently, I have been the girl that needed the reach for help. Earlier this year I lost my job unexpectedly. This was a moment where I more than ever needed an “Army”. I felt the floor fall beneath me, scared, shocked and incredibly sad that the job I had loved and worked so hard at was completely gone.

God, “why did you let this happen to me!?” Believe me when I say I asked a lot of spicy questions on my drive home that day after my disbelief and sadness wore off.

And what did He say in reply? Nothing, just peace.

At that moment, I felt He was challenging me to CHOOSE Faith. To be honest, I didn’t have enough faith at times. Sending in resume after resume and getting denial after denial I needed “Truth” spoken over me. Hopelessness was ever so easily a reality to choose.

In the days to follow, when I felt deflated I reached out to my closest friends- my ARMY. These girls stood with me. And when I say they stopped everything to pray with me, meet me, FaceTime me... they did it all selflessly and boldly. It was like their faith became my own when I felt weak. In turn, I felt strong again.

They pointed me to the truth and reminded me of God's promises. I love the scripture in Proverbs that says “Words give life” (Prov. 18: 21) and let me tell you, when they spoke God's words over me I came back to life again every time. God's words are sustaining and it was the greatest blessing to have friends that were willing to pour his love all over me. It was the very thing that got me through to the blessing.

If you are going through a hard or unexpected time, I first want to let you know that you’re not alone! God knows the beginning from the end and already has your next step prepared for you. His greatest desire is to walk with you and lead you through these unforeseen moments.

Maybe in this time he is challenging you to choose faith. Though at times it seems hard to believe, In His perfect timing, your next step WILL be revealed.

If you are desiring Godly friendships in your life, whether you have moved somewhere new, or have been in the same place for a while-I believe God desires to give strong, Godly friendships to you.

Let’s pray for this together:

“Jesus, I know your word says it is better for me to have good friendships. I ask that you bring specific people into my life soon that will hold my arms up when times get hard, and make me laugh when I need to feel your joy. I pray for close friends that will pray for me and speak truth over me. Lastly, I pray that I would be this friend to someone. Help me to be selfless and bold. Help me to bring life to the friends you bring my way. Amen”

You are standing with an Army!

- Lauren Gilleylen, ARISE Director of Marketing + Development