“Distractions, distractions, distractions. . .” is a phrase I heard the Holy Spirit say to me one day as I sat before Him in prayer. I was wondering what He meant. I never dreamed it would turn out to be a friendship that I had. I never knew just how how deceitful the enemy could be until I saw how he worked to bring confusion and destruction in my life through a close relationship I had with a Christian friend.

For a little more than a year, I sensed that this friendship was coming to a close. I even mentioned it to my friend, and she was not agreeable to the idea that this season of friendship was ending. I admonished her to spend time with people closer to her age, but she ignored my pleas. The last six to eight months, I enjoyed her company less and less, but as I sought to begin pulling away, she interjected herself further and further into my life until it was unbearable. I told her that the relationship had run its course, and I was going in a different direction that did not include spending time with her. I was pleasant, but direct, as her behavior had progressively become more aggressive, controlling, and manipulative.

After I distanced myself from her, I experienced a freedom that was so amazing, and I did not see that coming! It was as if a heavy, dark dirty blanket had been pulled off of me. Now I could breathe. I could see again, both spiritually and naturally. I smiled again. I was full of God’s joy again. I was at peace. I was myself again. I was free! God had opened my eyes to what had happened in the natural and the spiritual. And I thank Him for His protective love over to me.   

Friendship is one of the most wonderful things in this life. It is a God-given relationship that we are to cherish and nurture throughout our lives. But, as Paul warned young Timothy about the deception of the enemy through people, I say to you, be careful who you call friend. Be wise-pray over every connection and relationship. I experienced a dark web woven slowly and deceptively around me to render me ineffective for Christ just when He is sending me in new directions. The timing here was no coincidence. It was planned, calculated, and purposefully executed to shut me down, permanently. It affected my mind, body, and emotions until I could not function well. If I had latched on to all the lies satan constantly spewed at me in a grand effort to convince me “something was wrong with me”, only God knows where I would have ended up.

I asked the Lord some years ago to help me not waste any trials or difficulties that come into my life. With every situation comes wisdom through lessons learned, if we look for them. This situation has truly been an eye-opening lesson in who to allow into my life as a friend. Once again, lesson learned by the protective power and omniscience of the Almighty, Living God. Thanks be to God who always gives us the victory through Christ Jesus! From one grateful heart to God’s ears-amen! ❤️ JSM