Hello, Beloved Reader! I’m Faith. Thanks for visiting me today. 

“I don’t need people. I can get along with God just fine without them.”

The old man sits across from the younger one and listens to him rant. The young man goes on about how he doesn’t have to have all the people around him. Obviously, this young man had gotten hurt. People get hurt and used by others, even in church families. This young man was not exempt. 

The older gentleman eats away at his plate of food, never looking up. The young man defends his stance on the subject and finishes his speech. The old man finally looks up after he completes his chewing and leaves the young man with one simple statement.

“Iron sharpens iron.”

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man the countenance of his friend.” — Proverbs 27:17

Whether we want to admit it or not, we’ve all been hurt by someone somehow. Each and every one of us have been angry at another person for doing us wrong. To be honest, I think it’s inevitable in this life to have pain from the actions of others. It will happen regardless of what you do to try to stop it.

Sometimes the Bible references us as trees, so think of yourself as the trunk of a tree. Some people in your life are leaves. They are there to provide shade and sometimes give you a little nourishment here and there. But, don’t be fooled. They are only around for a season. After that season, they fall away.

Some people in your life are like the branches. Some are stronger than others, and some stay longer than others, but be careful because when storms come or pressure comes, they aren’t strong enough to support you.

The branches will break away.

But, there are some people in your life that are like the roots of a tree. Those people are grounded. Roots hold the tree in place and gather nutrients from what the tree is planted in – the soil. If you can find a few good roots in your life who are grounded in Jesus Christ and His Word, then you will be good to grow.

Those roots are the iron that sharpens iron. Those roots will be those who help strengthen you and help hold you up. Those people will be the ones with you through thick and thin. They will encourage you in God and care enough about you to let you know when you’re about to make a mistake.

We’ve all been hurt. I’m not disregarding your pain. I know it aches. But, think about the people in your life who are seasonal, those who are around for a little longer, and those who have always been there. Let the seasonal ones go, the branches too, because you can’t cry over them forever. You’ll make yourself miserable. 

Be thankful for your roots and cling to Jesus. For He will never leave you. He’ll always be there.

—Faith Cross