Day Fifty

WHEN RELATIONSHIPS CHANGE

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

—PSALM 121:1–2 NIV

Every relationship changes. That’s a hard reality, one that absolutely requires me to lift my eyes up and let the Lord help me through it. Because, honestly, I just do not like change.

As a single girl, I’ve had a few breakups, and they are never fun. Whether you are on the giving or receiving end of a breakup, it hurts. You think if you are the dumped, the other person is fine. But if you’ve ever been the dumper, you know that’s not the case.

Breakups are gross and sad and such a unique pain. We can talk through every side until you’ve heard every he-said/she-said detail, actual or fabricated, and even then the pain will still be there.

But you know what we don’t talk about enough? When friendships break up.

Of all the romantic breakups in my life, none have come close to hurting the way a breakup with a best friend hurts. I didn’t know a feeling like that could exist. It was breathtaking, but in an absolutely terrible way.

And after the dust settled, I didn’t know who to talk with and I didn’t know what to feel and I didn’t know what to call the thing that had just happened. What do you do when things are broken with your person?

Of all the romantic breakups in my life, none have come close to hurting the way a breakup with a best friend hurts.

You lift your eyes up to God—your Helper. Your Comforter. Your Father. Your Friend.

Jesus cares and He understands. He allowed His relationship with His Father to be broken for you. He can empathize.

This may sound cliché, but trust me. I’m doing it today. I’m choosing to trust God and His heart and that His eyes are still on this, even though I feel a friendship changing in ways I didn’t see coming. It’s a little painful, a little scary, but trust in this is the brave choice.

If your relationship is changing in a way that is heartbreaking, don’t try to distract the pain away. Be brave enough to let Jesus into the ripped places.

BE BRAVE: Do you see a relationship in your life changing? Write about it. Ask God to show you where He is in the midst of this change.