Why We Need Girlfriends

Secret Keepers Sightseeing If there was any doubt about friendship being God-ordained, one would only have to look at the lives of Elizabeth and Mary. Obviously, our loving Lord not only understood their need for a woman friend, He planned it. What brought these two women together were their unique circumstances; both were carrying a miracle child that would impact the future of the world. They were godly women with tremendous faith, yet they deeply needed someone to share in their experience, someone who understood. So, their loving Heavenly Father gave them the perfect companion.He gave them each other.

I pray you appreciate how tender the heart of God is to meet this need in the lives of Elizabeth and Mary. God understands our need for intimacy. In fact, friendship is His idea.

Read Genesis 2:18. During the creation process, God said that everything was good, except one thing. What was that?

Satan knows Gods Word-unfortunately better that we do. Therefore, he will do everything he can to keep us alone and isolated. Often when people face a difficult situation, they withdraw, creating a perfect environment for Satan to work. Remember, his desire is to steal, kill and destroy. His specialty is to wait until we are alone and then attack. We must be careful and not allow him to succeed!

One way to fight back is to make sure we have godly friends and relationships. God created us for relationship and fellowship, but healthy relationships require integrity. The dictionary defines integrity as the adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character, honesty.

Pastor and author Charles Swindoll says the following, ;Nothing speaks louder or more powerfully than a life of integrity. Godly men and women agree. Integrity is built slowly over a lifetime. It is a precious thing-difficult to build but easy to tear down. As believers in Christ, we must seek to live each day with discipline, honesty and faith. When we do, at least two things happen: integrity becomes a habit, and we are blessed because of our obedience to God.

Conversations

While Luke provides the conversation of Mary and Elizabeth first moments, he never mentions the intimate details of Mary visit. What took place during those three months remains unknown. What was said there STAYED there. This is a good example for us to follow! The bond of trust between these two women had been established.

Travel tip: Before you share intimate details with others, make certain they have proven themselves trustworthy.

Without any fear, these two women were able to express their greatest needs, hopes and anxieties because they were women of integrity.

Travel Diary

Without hesitation, Mary shared her concerns with Elizabeth. What do you think they were?

Likewise, Elizabeth felt safe to share with Mary her concerns. What do you think they were?

Perhaps Mary shared concerns about her future, and Elizabeth shared heartache from her past. Isn’t that what integrity allows-true intimacy? And isn’t that what we desire in relationships? Friends with whom we can share our deepest secrets, knowing that we can trust them completely?

Now for a hard question: Would Mary have been able to trust you with her secret?

Are you a person who keeps confidences?

What about the women you share life with? Are they women who are trustworthy?

Women long for intimate friendships, but without integrity it is impossible. A sister in Christ must be able to go to a prayer partner and pour out her heart without fear that what she shares will be repeated. Girlfriends keep secrets.

I learned of a survey of over 40,000 women where the number one reason given for the demise of a best friendship was betrayal. Have you ever experienced the pain of betrayal by a close friend?

Were you able to move past it and move forward?

It is essential that we forgive, let go of the hurt, and move on. That is very difficult to do, but God is willing and able to help.

Jesus understood the pain of betrayal because a close friend betrayed Him. Do you remember who it was? (To refresh your memory review Matthew 26:17-30 and 47-50.)

When we share our secrets, hurts and confidences with a best friend, we never expect that friend to repeat them with someone else. Read the following and decide if you agree with it:

“I have no respect for justice and no mercy for defenseless humanity. I ruin without killing. I tear down homes. I break hearts and wreck lives. You will find me in the pews of the pious as well as in the haunts of the unholy. I gather strength with age. I have made my way where greed, distrust and dishonor are unknown; yet my victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. My name is gossip.”

Did I hear a hearty “Amen”? Gossip is devastating and an easy trap to fall into. We must be alert and not fall prey to the scheme of the enemy. Neither should we be misled into thinking that gossip means only untruths spread about others. Gossip is defined as “idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal or private affairs of others.

When a friend betrays us and trust is gone, it’s extremely difficult to build back. In many cases the relationship is never the same. If we are going to have a real impact for God’s kingdom, we must be extremely careful and not allow ourselves to be swept away by gossip. God has a much higher standard for His followers. We are to be women of integrity.

When Mary stood in the doorway of Elizabeth’s home, her secret was safe. Because of Elizabeth’s integrity she had the honor of mentoring the mother of God’s son.

Girlfriend…Be Like Elizabeth keep secrets! Who knows when a young woman like Mary will show up at your door-a woman with the biggest secret since the beginning of time.