Heart and soul…or Bring me a friend, Lord!

“Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer said. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.”                                                                         

                                                          1 Samuel 14:7

   This verse came up in my Bible study this week, in the beautiful story of Jonathan's faithfulness, trusting in God's intervention in his life. The author really wanted me to get a specific idea from the Scripture passage - trust and listen, God intervenes. It's a good message and completely Biblical. However, it's not the one I heard. 

   

    The whole time I was reading this passage, the last part of this verse played like a loop in my mind. 

      "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul."

And in my pastor's wife heart the old longing sat, calling out to God….

       "I just want a friend. One single friend."

This is what we all want, isn't it? I mean, all of us on this round planet, searching for someone to understand us and love us "heart and soul." This isn't a romantic verse. It's a verse about going into battle…together. It's not about our husband's being our soul mates. It's helpful to remember that God is always enough, but this verse shows us that God is not only enough of a friend, but He's a friend that cares. He values people and relationships in our lives and works through them. 

    Time and time again I hear pastor's wives tell me, I just want one friend. Someone who sees me for who I really am, who'll invite me places, and most importantly invite me into their life and want to join in mine. Friends who reside in the tri-state area, not spread hither and yon by clergy life.

    When we first moved to our call, I thought that friend would never come and then... I went to library story time. Weird, but true. I meet Lani, who was also looking for a friend. She was willing to open her heart and her time for me and what a difference it made! Lani moved away, 2 short years after we met. (Tears.) But her gift to me was that gift of the armor-bearer of Jonathan - 

"Do all that you have in mind...I am with you, heart and soul." 

Lani opened her heart, so that I can open mine now to others. I can make myself vulnerable and risk all the yucky rejection, because she was willing to be my armor-bearer, my first friend in a strange new place, giving me strength in the battle against isolation and loneliness.

Do you long for a good friend? 

Can you be that friend for a pastor's wife? Not just saying hi on Sundays and praying for her family, but inviting her in?

God is surely enough, but He also surely cares about the very desires of our heart, including bringing you a friend. Lift it up to Him, sister. He hears. He doesn't just give us the armor, but He gives us people to bear the armor with. It might be His timing, but He has a friend in mind.