I was living through what would be the greatest trial of my life. I was grief-stricken, lost in the depths of depression and sadness. My first-born daughter’s body had been unexpectedly overwhelmed by a virus, a virus her little body was unable to fight. She was my angel, a gift from the hand of God, but now she was gone, abruptly taken from our lives and transported to the arms of God. But with only three months to grieve, I found myself giving birth again. Once again, my arms would cuddle a child, our child, our son. And as I looked upon that new life through tear-stained eyes, my dearest Friend, my Savior, wrapped His loving arms around me and comforted me, for He had blessed us with Jonathan David.
The name Jonathan means God has given, and David, beloved or friend, and this child was most definitely the beloved gift from God. Even though he was just an infant, he would be the one God would use to encourage my heart and restore purpose to my life. My Friend, Jesus, had come along side me, shared my deepest hurt, comforted without criticizing, grieved as I grieved, bled when I was wounded, and accepted me unconditionally. And that’s what friends do.
The eldest son of King Saul, Jonathan was born with the potential to be one of Israel’s greatest kings. Jonathan was a man of utmost courage, wisdom, loyalty, and honor; he was also a good friend. After David stunning victory over the giant Goliath, Jonathan was drawn to David, and a beloved friendship would ensue. Jonathan realized that God had not chosen him, but had anointed David to the throne. Instead of responding in jealously, Jonathan “stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle,” and that wisdom and integrity earned him a high place of honor in the Biblical Hall of Fame. We find that “the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” What an awesome picture of true friendship. When David was discouraged, it would be Jonathan who would go to “David in the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.”
Jonathan’s are rare; friendships are costly, demanding sacrifice, selflessness, and sensitivity. But friendship is also precious. I have been blessed with many such friends; those precious jewels sent to me as a gift from God. But I also have the ultimate Friend, the One Who laid down His life for me. Be a friend today!
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
What a friend we have in Jesus; all our sins and griefs to bear; what a privilege to carry; everything to God in prayer.