This verse gives me hope (for me yes, but for my kids even more so).
Before you read the rest of this, know that these thoughts are being colored by my own fragile state due to physical pain and a stressful week. So, I am warning you. The rest will be truth but it might sound pretty raw.
The friend verse gives me hope for my kids because three of them have never had close friends. My almost 13 year old has never had a friend -- ever. My two almost fifth graders both so want friends of their own. One of them prays God will bring him a friend who would want to spend the night at our house with him. He also prays for someone to play with him at recess when school is on. My 11 year old girl just wants to be invited to a party and be like a typical girl.
If none of these things ever happen, they all will be okay because Jesus is their friend. He will always be their friend.
Is Jesus your friend? I mean, is He really a friend, one who knows you so well but still loves you? Still enjoys hanging out with you even when you're grumpy? That's the kind of friend Jesus wants to be to you.
Today in church my almost 13 year old was vocalizing happy noises very very loudly throughout the entire sermon. I have no idea what he was saying. I love his happy noises. I do. But I am so afraid someone will tell me I have to take him somewhere else, that he causes too much of a disruption, that he is no welcome. And wheh he is no longer welcome I won't be either.
Maybe this won't ever happen. Maybe everyone else loves his noises too (well, I know this isn't true -- we had a rough time at a hospital in the next state because of his noises).
But even if we get kicked out of society Jesus will be right there.
Have you ever felt fragile, left out, not wanted?
Jesus has too.
Let Him in. Oh, please, let Him in.