Adwoa was known for being friendly and outgoing. She had countless friends at work, in her neighbourhood, and at church. But lately, something had been bothering her. She realized that, while she had many acquaintances, few of them seemed to truly stick around when times were tough. When she had gone through a difficult season of grief after losing her mother, most of her “friends” had offered a quick, “Let me know if you need anything!” but never followed up. Adwoa felt lonely, and she wondered, Do faithful friends even exist anymore?
One evening, during her small group Bacenta bible study, the shepherd read Proverbs 20:6:
“Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?”
The verse hit Adwoa hard. She had been so focused on finding faithful friends that she hadn’t stopped to ask herself if she was being a faithful friend to others. She thought back to times when she had promised to pray for someone but forgotten to follow through, or when she had been too busy to check in on a struggling coworker. Faithfulness wasn’t just about showing up when it was convenient, it was about consistency, love, and selflessness. Adwoa realized that if she wanted faithful relationships, she had to first become a faithful person.
That night, Adwoa prayed: “Lord, thank You for always being faithful to me, even when I fall short. Please help me to reflect Your faithfulness in my relationships. Teach me to love others with consistency and to be the kind of friend who sticks around, even in hard times. Help me to live out Your example of unfailing love.”
Over the weeks that followed, Adwoa began to change. She made it a point to check in regularly with a friend who was going through a divorce. She showed up to support a coworker at a charity event, even though it was outside of her comfort zone. And when someone asked for prayer, she stopped right then and there to pray with them, instead of simply saying she would.
As Adwoa grew in faithfulness, something beautiful happened, her relationships deepened. People began to trust her more, and she experienced the joy of true, meaningful friendships. She also realized that the faithfulness she was cultivating wasn’t just about her relationships with others, it was a reflection of her growing faithfulness to God.
Proverbs 20:6 reminds us that true faithfulness is rare and precious. While many people may claim to have unfailing love, it’s the consistent, selfless, and reliable actions of a faithful person that truly stand out. Faithfulness isn’t just about what others give to us, it’s about who we choose to be. When we reflect God’s faithfulness in our relationships, we not only bless others but also deepen our connection with Him.
Heavenly Father, Thank You for being the ultimate example of faithfulness. For the reader who feels let down by others or unsure of how to be a faithful friend, I pray that You fill their heart with Your unfailing love. Teach them to reflect Your faithfulness in their relationships, to love consistently, and to be a source of encouragement to those around them. Help them to trust that as they grow in faithfulness, You will bless their relationships and draw them closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Let this story and prayer encourage you: If you’ve been hurt by broken promises or shallow relationships, know that God is the ultimate example of faithfulness. He never fails, and His love is constant. Use His love as your guide to become someone who loves with consistency, patience, and selflessness. Faithfulness isn’t always easy, but it’s always worth it. Be the faithful friend you long to have, and trust that God will bless your efforts with deeper, more meaningful connections.
