LET THE RIGHT ONE IN.

A friend, to me, is that person who’s basically your partner-in-crime, the one who knows almost everything about you (sometimes a little too much!). They’re the ones who stick around through thick and thin, who hype you up, laugh until you cry with you, and are right there in the messiness of real life.

Honestly, I could list a million things that make someone a true friend, but at the end of the day, it’s about having each other’s backs no matter what. A real friend isn’t afraid to call you out when you mess up or push you to chase your goals, and you do the same for them.

When I think about epic friendships, the story of David and Jonathan in the Bible always comes to mind. These two were seriously close; they made a covenant, and Jonathan accepted that David was going to be king because that’s what God wanted. He promised to protect him and stayed loyal, even when it cost him. (Check out 1 Samuel 18-20) Jonathan loved David as much as he loved himself. That’s the kind of friendship I think we should all want to model.

The bible tells in Proverbs 18:24

A friend sticks closer than a brother. This describes how loyal and deeply committed some friends are, to the point that they surpass family bonds.

What does a healthy friendship look like?

To me, a healthy friendship? It’s like David and Jonathan in the Bible, ride or die, have each other’s back. You build each other up rather than tear each other down. You challenge each other, encourage each other in God, and keep each other accountable. No mean jokes, no looking down on anyone. And yeah, you pray for each other.

James 1:19 (ESV): "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger."

1 Samuel 18:1: "...Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself".

1 Thessalonians 5:11: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up...".

Proverbs 27:9: "Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice".