September’s luncheon was such a special time together. Our panel of close friends
shared honestly and vulnerably about what it takes to cultivate meaningful, Christ-
centered friendships—and there were so many key takeaways that we wanted to
share a few of them with you.

Our friendships matter.

But in a world where we can have hundreds—or even thousands—of “friends” online,
are we actually experiencing the kind of deep friendship our hearts were created for?

Our circles can be a mile wide and only an inch deep. Maybe it’s the social media
culture we live in. Maybe it’s fear of rejection if we let someone see the real, unmade-up
version of us. Maybe we’re simply too busy. Whatever the reason, many of us long for
something deeper.

Because girlfriends are a gift.

A true friend gets us. She knows our bumps and bruises and loves us anyway. She’s
there when we need a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a little encouragement, or
someone to laugh with until we cry. She knows when to push us and when to respect
our boundaries. And, of course, she knows when we need dark chocolate sprinkled with
sea salt!

God didn’t create us to walk alone. He designed us for fellowship with Him and with one
another. But meaningful friendships don’t happen by accident. They require
intentionality, time, vulnerability, and investment.

So, what does it look like to cultivate friendships that are shaped more by Christ than by
comparison, competition, or convenience?

It looks like refreshing one another, rather than keeping score. (Proverbs 27:9)

It means stirring one another up to love and good works and encouraging each
other to grow closer to Jesus. (Hebrews 10:24–25)

It means being willing to pray together, study God’s Word together, challenge one
another with truth spoken in love, and carry each other’s burdens when life gets
hard. (Hebrews 3:13; Galatians 6:2; Proverbs 27:17)

It also means protecting what has been entrusted to us. Confidences matter. Our
words matter. Gossip can destroy what took years to build. (Proverbs 16:28; James
3:5–10)

And yes, there should be plenty of laughter and fun along the way! A cheerful heart
really is good medicine. (Proverbs 17:22)

We become like those we spend the most time with, which means we need to think
carefully about our inner circle. Do the women closest to you spur you on in your walk
with Jesus? (Proverbs 13:20)

Friendship isn’t about having more. It’s about going deeper with a few. And
sometimes, those friendships don’t last forever. Betrayal, broken confidence, growing
apart, and changing seasons can hurt deeply. Learning to forgive, establish healthy
boundaries, and love with grace is part of friendship, too.

So here’s the question: Who are the women in your inner circle—and are you
investing in the friendships that help you become more like Jesus?

Because we really are better together.

Preorder Lisa’s book: Finding Your Elizabeth: Girlfriends Are a Gift: Lisa T. Grimes: 9781635826579: Amazon.com: Books

We hope you’ll join us for our October luncheon!

Debbie Wilson will be with us sharing about forgiveness from her new Bible study, Big Hurt, Bigger God: Finding
Freedom through Biblical Forgiveness.

We’ll talk about what it means to experience God’s freedom when we’ve been deeply hurt—and how biblical forgiveness can change everything.