Who Checks on the One who Checks on Everyone?

There was a saying that was permeating the airways telling people to “Check on your strong friends.” The thought is…Strong People are infrequently checked on by those who are around them. It is assumed that they will be fine. That they will pull themselves out of the slump. The assumption is that they may get knocked down by life, but they will get back up, with no incident

That thought processing has a lot of levels that we will unpack in this blog. What qualifies someone to be a strong friend? What approves them to be the one to stand in the gap and deliver for others, when they themselves are struggling to breathe? What is in their make up for them to Show Up for you, but contemplate if they should remain present for themselves?

Ultimately it is not about what; rather it is about Who made them strong?” It is this mirror experience that you see in them that is likened to a two way mirror. You see your Strong Friend on one side, but from that other view- there are two who are not seen. The Word of God tells us, “…for when I am weak, then am I strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:10 It is the way that God shows up triumphantly in a surrendered life that actually makes us see someone as strong.

Allow me to have a transparent moment. In the pass, I grappled with the title of strong friend, and what it came with. At times, it seemed like it was absent of reciprocity, and sometimes even Lone Ranger-like. Until God gave me a different inference point. He often times isolates those who are considered the strong friend.

There is a pour by the Lord that takes place in the lives of those whom God allows to tarry with others. You will get to the place where you stop keeping score about how many times you have shown up for others to being grateful for the times you have, like Jesus, to still away with the God. He endows and equips you to go right back out to pour into others.

I remember years ago attending a conference where the Speaker asked the question: “If you are on a plane and it experiences an issue where it is going down, do you put the breathing apparatus on you or your child first?” Many people said the child first, but the correct answer was…YOU! Strong Friends must always find themselves having to keep their mind on the needful thing to be able to meet the needs of others. The Strong Friends understand well that their care and counsel to you is inextricably tied to their relationship with the Lord.

A Strong Friend in God can be the one who did not show up to the event that you curated without God. A Strong Friend could also be like Prophet Micaiah in your life, the one telling you, “No”, when four hundred before told you “Yes.” A Strong Friend could be the one who does not give advice all the time, but turns down his or her plate to fast on your behalf.

Strong Friends in God requires an understanding that far exceeds friendships as usual. They are so rich in vegetation that nations feed off of them! They are fruitful in and out of season. They are purposeful and life-giving. They are remarkably resilient; and yet oddly precious. They come both with jaw dropping words and much needed silence! Strong Friends do not react or respond to everything. A powerful reminder pinned by King Solomon, shared in Ecclesiastes 3:7, “…A time to keep silence, And a time to speak.”

If that Strong Friend is you- do not carry the weight of fixing the problems of those who you love. Recognize the gift God has given you in them seeing you navigate through life trusting Him; surrendering to Him; and maturing in Him! Lead them back to Him through your counsel and presence.

So, to answer the question, “Who checks on the strong friend?” The Lord does!

Divine Work & Pray:

Work:

Jot down in your Divine Design Journal what you think the Characteristics of a Strong Friend in Christ is and examine your circle of friends. Do they align with the definition ?

Pray:

Oh God, how great is your mercy. You continue to provide my needs and grace me to carry out Your Will. You allow me to experience Your Fullness and prepare opportunities for me to point others back to you. Thank You for every moment that you have allowed me to understand servitude. You have done to great of a work in my life to keep it to myself. May the strength they see in me be a glaring example of You making over my life! May my love for you provoke others! In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

To fully embrace the DD Blog Experience, Head over to Amazon for the Divine Design by JQ Journal, to accompany your Power of the Pen Moment. 🖊️