My mom has always told me that God brings people in our life for a reason or a season or forever. I didn't understand the significance of that until this season has begun to end. This week has been hard saying goodbye to precious friends that I never want to lose. However, I understand why a season friendship is still a good thing. Sometimes those friends may have to leave for whatever reason... distance, moving, following God's leading, but God can use those season friendships to be the most significant sometimes.
God has given me glimpses into what the body of Christ is meant to be: friends who carry my burdens, share in my hurt, rejoice in my gladness, encourage me when I struggle, catch me when I fall, share their triumphs and allow me to be a part of their growing. They call me out when I am not seeking the things of the Lord. They hold me accountable to truth and guide me back to the Lord when I am searching. They wipe my tears, and laugh in joy with me. These are the precious friendships that the Lord has provided to carry me through this hard season. And although three of those closest, dearest friends will be gone tomorrow and this season is ending, I can rejoice that the Lord has allowed my heart to be encouraged by them. This chapter of my life has been precious, special and created friendships that will forever be close to heart. Saying goodbye for today doesn't mean forgetting about all the yesterdays or even having tomorrows to look forward to.
Soon I will get to stand next to Olivia as a beautiful bride and watch her relationship with Jon become a marriage that God can use to bless others as much as he has blessed me. I will get to hear about Lauren's journey to Botswana and all the lives she has been able to touch through her following God to Go and make disciples. I will continue to be encouraged by Mattie's obedience to follow God even when it's hard and leading her away from a place she was once called. These friendships are ones that are so hard to let go of in a tangible way, but that I know full well the Lord can continue to use even across oceans or states. God has blessed me beyond what I could have imagined through these precious women of the Lord and I am so eager to see what God has in store for the next season of life.
Although this goodbye is sad, and these friends are going to be missed dearly, I know that because I've seen God's provision in my life through them, He has no intention of leaving me to wander now. God's grace has blown me away the last few weeks and I can only imagine what He has in store for me next.
"All I have seen teaches me to trust Him for that I have not seen."
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