Truth and trust are crucial in friendship, helping people feel safe, grounded, and connected withing shared spaces. Having true and trusted friends is deeply valuable; however, such friendships require intentional effort and commitment. The cost of such friendships is relative to the pleasures they bring. Let’s dive into the details of true friendship.

Who is a True and Trusted Friend?

A true friend is one who stays close through all seasons of life – moments of growth, uncertainty, joy, and difficulty. Life has different seasons and in all those seasons, we need true and trusted friends. We need them in the good times and the bad times of life. It can be deeply isolating to face difficult seasons alone. It’s equally lonely to be alone even in the good times. As such, having a true friend who stays around at all times is beneficial.

The Bible describes true friends as those who love consistently and can remain closer than siblings – a powerful image of loyalty and care. In the good times of life, they are present to provide a partner for celebration by:

• Guiding on the necessary steps to stay in the bliss.
• Encouraging you to grow, reminding you that your potential extends far beyond current limits.
• Keeping you in check so you are not complacent.
• Remaining supportive and not envious of your progress.
• Treating your experiences with confidentiality and protecting your dignity and safety.

In the bad times of life, true and trusted friends stay closer. They add value and virtues to your life, helping to overcome challenges and achieve life goals for greater heights. In those bad times, they:

• Empathize with you and provide a shoulder to cry on.
• Provide comfort and succour.
• Stick around seeing you through the toughest times of life till you break through.
• Don’t give up on you, even when support requires personal sacrifice.
• Love you unconditionally and deeply. Their love is not at face value or talk of mouth.
• Counsel and lead you to the right places for solution.
• Help you grow out of bad habits and circumstances.
• Respect and treat you right regardless of the depths and weaknesses they’ve seen about you.
• Stand with you in prayer, hope and trust, offering spiritual or emotional support where appropriate.

These types of friends are rare, so when you find some, keep them.

Life Application of A True and Trusted Friend

Emmy and Jenny were youthful friends who met abroad. New to an international environment, they needed a formidable company to navigate life in a foreign community. They decided to intentionally build a strong friendship that would support their growth in a new environment. They cheered each other on and challenged each other to greater heights in their academics and other areas of life.

Their strengths and weaknesses complimented each other’s. They stood for each other through the storms of life in a foreign country. They nurtured each other in various areas of competence. Two are better than one principle worked for them as they wished to overcome various weaknesses they could not achieve individually. By serving as accountability partners, they eventually worked harder enough to graduate with distinction. Their friendship wasn’t void of offence, yet they surmounted, solved, reconciled and moved on to greatness.

What kind of friendships are you nurturing and how do they influence your growth? Are they true and trusting friendships? Find and Invest in true, trusted friendships this year for truly transformative and unlimited experiences.

How Can I Find A True Friend?

Finding a true friend often begins with introspection, because healthy friendships grow when we practice the qualities we seek in others. Genuine seekers of true friends look out for these categories of people listed below by asking questions like, who is a true friend? Who is a trusted friend? To find a true friend, look out for these:

• An open-minded person.
• A good and attentive listener.
• One who does not easily take offense.
• One who is easily forgiving and makes extra effort to settle disputes when they arise.
• Efficient conflict manager who is always committed to the progress and stability of the friendship.
• One who is not easily giving up on friendships nor jumping in and out of friendships.

Above all, be a true friend by being to others what you seek in them. He who has friends ought to show himself friendly. Likewise, do unto others what you want them to do unto you.

A friend loves at all times!

This article is part of our ongoing reflections on youth growth, relationships, and purpose. If this topic connects to a personal question or challenge you’re facing, feel free to reach out; your question may shape a future reflection.

Written by: Merz

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