Relationships and friendships are challenging. They are challenging with certain people because some people seem to push you to your limits. They frustrate you, challenge you, make you want to scream all at the same time. Sometimes you love them but determine that its best to love them at a distance. Sometimes you feel like maybe the relationship is not worth fighting for.
One particular friendship was like this for me for years. There was always a struggle, always an apology to be made, always a wall up. But it seemed as though neither of us could let go because God had brought our paths together. Our friendship was worth fighting for and we fought for it. It took years of “talks,” silent frustrations, and awkward encounters to get there. But I’m glad we stayed and fought for our friendship.
David and Jonathan had one of the best biblical friendships and their story always encourages me that there are some friendships and relationships worth fighting for. There are some people that God has placed in our lives that we must go the extra mile with. Perhaps our destiny is tied to theirs, perhaps God wants us to learn something from them, or perhaps God wants to teach us something in the midst of the relationship struggles.
Perhaps every argument is worth it because you will understand each other a little better. Perhaps you need to die to self to learn to love unconditionally. Perhaps, God is showing you some things in your character that need developing.
Jonathan was so dedicated to maintaining his friendship with David that he was determined to do anything for his friend. Despite the many odds they had working against them (David was despised by Saul, Jonathan could have shown loyalty to his father and delivered his friend to his father, Jonathan could have been jealous of David’s upcoming role), they still loved each other and displayed the willingness to go the extra mile for the relationship.
Now don’t get me wrong, not all relationships are worth fighting for. So how do you know which ones to fight for? How do you know which ones to go the extra mile for? Continue to lay the relationship before God and ask Him to show you what He wants you to see. Ask Him to end the relationship if it is not His will for you. But be careful when you ask. Be ready for an answer that may not necessarily be the easy way out or what you want to hear.
Father, help me to decipher which relationships are worth fighting for. Help me to fight for the God ordained long-term relationships that you’ve placed in my path and let go of the ones that are not.
