“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost?”

Matthew 18:12 (NLT)

Making friends is hard at any age but especially as a young adult. Everyone’s so nice in the South where I live, but there’s a difference between being friendly and being someone’s friend.

I have been praying to have a best friend for a long time now. Yet, God has been teaching me recently what I often pray for is what He’s telling me to do for others.

So, if I want friends to pursue me, to invite me to events, to text me encouragements, I need to be out there pursuing others as well.

Maybe we’re too distracted by the friends we already have or are too shy to reach out. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who overcomes our own fears and insecurities, we can love like God.

Let’s be more than friendly but be a friend to everyone.

I try to have authentic conversations with others, help them feel seen and heard by sharing what God is doing in my life. If I take the first step toward vulnerability, perhaps others will open up as well, and we’ll both see we are not alone in our struggles.

While seeking lost sheep might feel like a thankless job, know that our reward is in heaven and nothing we do for God out of love is ever wasted. You may even get a new friend!

Let’s pray:

God, help us be good shepherds to seek lost sheep, loving others as You do. Amen!