I Am Always with You: Part Two

Part one left off with the most profound example of friendship from Jesus when He knew that going to Bethany and raising Lazarus from the dead meant there was no turning back from the events that would lead to the religious leaders’ plot against Him. This led to His own physical death and His ultimate expression of friendship. 

That was 2000 years ago. What makes Jesus still with us each today? The Holy Spirit! His friendship extends beyond His humanity through the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 14:15-17, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate (a helper, aider, assistant, companion) to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (NIV).

If you have accepted the gift of salvation provided by the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is not just with you, but is inside you! Frank Moore explains the Holy Spirit this way: “The Holy Spirit,” the third person of the trinity, “is a person and has created us with personhood so we can relate to Him, not as a theological concept, but as our best friend”.*

You were not created to be God’s slave or robot. You were made for a relationship. God desires not just to be your Lord and Savior, but also your friend. He invites you to more than religion and going through the motions. He invites you, no matter who you are, where you come from, what you have done, or what has been done to you, to a friendship with Him!

You are invited to actually know Jesus and to share life with Him. There are many people we know about. I can go to Wikipedia to find out information about celebrities, such as the movies they have been in and some of their personal details, including their age, marital status, and the number of children they have. I may even be able to find out other information about them, but I don’t really know them. Do we approach Jesus the same way, finding out facts about Him, but not really knowing Him?

So how do we get to know Jesus as our friend? We never stumble into relationships. You are best friends with someone because you were intentional about the relationship, sharing your joys, wins, trials, fears, and failures. It is the same with our relationship with God. 

Here are a few examples of intentional things to do to develop the most important relationship you will ever have:

1. God’s Word - This may seem logical, and you probably frequently spend time in the Word of God, but are they just stories and facts, or are you intentionally seeing God’s heart and character on the pages? Are you learning who He is or just about Him? God’s Word is the heart of your best friend. We see what God values (including that He values you!) and why. Then our values start to change to match His.
   

2. Prayer - Conversing with our best friends is not just something we set aside a specific time for, and it should be the same with our relationship with God. Yes, daily Bible reading and prayer are something we should carve time out for in our days. It is essential. But what about the rest of the day? We should be acknowledging God in the rhythm of the day and having a continuous exchange with Him throughout the day. 

Here are a few examples of times we can make talking to God an intentional act until it

becomes a habit: 

• When doing chores that you really don’t want to do, can you thank God that you have this responsibility because of the blessing God has given you? I sometimes do this when I need to clean my floor or something, and I really do not want to. I say, “Thank you that I have this floor and a family to walk on it and make it dirty.” This is about being grateful for the small things and not taking for granted the blessings that not everyone has.

  
  

• Or maybe you have a baby and another diaper needs to be changed, or a toddler and another fit is being thrown (this could apply to teenagers, too!). Can you thank God that you have that child and pray a prayer for their future?

  
  

• Or there is someone who is rude to you in the store or cuts you off in traffic. Instead of the reaction most people would have, could we be different (which is not easy!), and pray for that person and whatever may have happened in their day that made them cranky, or thank God we didn’t get hit by the car that cut us off?

  
  

These are just a couple of examples of how to practice acknowledging and talking to God in the rhythm of the day.

3. Have you ever had a friend who always talked about themselves, never asked about you, and it was as if there was only one direction that the phone worked, and that way was you calling/texting them, and not the other way around? That is a one-sided relationship and is shallow. That doesn’t grow a friendship, so it’s something we need to be aware of when we talk to God and make sure we are listening, too. That may mean turning off the constant noise of the TV, music, or other distractions sometimes.  Here are some of the ways God talks to us:

4. The Bible - When we read God’s Word, we are reading His love letter to us.
   

5. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit - When you think you hear it, ask if it lines up with God’s Word. If not, then it’s just your mind.
   

6. Circumstances - God can speak to us through the things going on in our lives, even the times when we may have caused a problem ourselves.
   

7. Other people - God will sometimes use other people, and that’s why it is so important to surround ourselves with Godly people with the same values and wisdom. If you don’t have people like this, I suggest finding a small group at your church where you feel comfortable sharing and receiving feedback.
   

As you grow in a friendship with God, you will eventually gain what you enjoy so much in your human friendships. That is trust! As you invite God into your circumstances and daily life, you will realize that you don’t have to control everything yourself. Trust in God develops as you experience His faithfulness, and He becomes the Rock, the foundation, in your life. You will find yourself not worrying and trying to control everything as much as before, because you know that God’s got your back no matter what.

The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the creator of the universe, is calling your name to enter into a friendship with Himself or to go deeper in your friendship with Him. He will never grow tired of hearing from you. He is always available, even when no one else is. He is never distracted or too busy for you. He is with you in the brightest days and the darkest nights. He knows your hang-ups, your failures, and your fears, but He is still calling your name. He is ready to enter into your joys with you. He is prepared to enter into your grief, your questions, and your confusion. He is ready to comfort and guide you.

It is my hope and prayer that you take your next step from religious motion into a genuine friendship with God!

Reflection Questions for Part 2 of “I Am With You Always”:

1. How has the Holy Spirit helped you experience Jesus as a friend in your daily life, and what intentional steps can you take to deepen that relationship this week?
   

2. Reflect on a time when you approached God's Word more as facts about Him rather than revealing His heart—how can you shift your reading to focus on His character and values?
   

3. In what everyday situations (like chores, interactions with others, or challenges) could you practice turning them into opportunities for prayer and conversation with God?
   

4. Describe a one-sided friendship you've experienced; how can you ensure your relationship with God isn't one-sided by improving your listening through the Bible, the Holy Spirit, circumstances, or other people?
   

5. How has building trust in God as your friend changed the way you handle worries, control, or difficult circumstances in your life?

*Moore, Frank. The Holy Spirit. The Foundry Publishing, 2023.

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