sICK aND tIRED

Dear Christian,

My BFF complains all of the time and I am sick and tired of it!  I want to still be friends but I can't stand her negativity!  What's worse is that I am started to be negative myself.  What can I do?

Miserably,

sICK aND tIRED

Dear Sick and Tired,

First and foremost, I would pray about your friend and seek God's direction for your specific situation.  He knows all of the details from every angle.  With that being said, there are several scriptures in Proverbs about friends.  Let's take a quick peek at the following 3:

1.) Prov 12:26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship

     "Righteous" meaning in right standing before God...proceed with caution in who you choose to be friends with and seek His guidance.  I have found that a prayer for God's will to be done in my relationships, often simplifies things for me.

2.) Prov 17:17 A friend loves at all times

      Loving someone at all times is near impossible.  Let's face it, sometimes people can get on our nerves.  It is hard to love the unlovable and we all have unlovable moments.  Maybe your friend is struggling with something right now and your kindheartedness is just what she needs to make it over the hump.

3.)  Prov 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted

      If your friend needs to hear, with a loving delivery, that she is stuck in a negativity sandpit, maybe you should be the one to tell her.  The key here is to do so lovingly.  

I leave you with this.  John 15:13 says, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."  

Peace,

Christian