Iron Sharpens Iron

I love this quote I read recently from Rick Warren: “there’s no such thing as a lone ranger Christian.” When I hear the phrase “a lone ranger,” I think of rugged individualism. I see a dusty, thirsty cowboy who sits by a campfire that he built all by himself, quenches his thirst from a nearby stream, with nobody watching but his trusty horse. As he rides off into the sunset, so to speak, I see such an incomplete picture of life. I think of Genesis 2:18, where God says of the only human being in this young world, “it is not good for the man to be alone.” We were meant to share our lives with others.

I have been through different stages of this realization myself. When I was a young teen, I struggled with loneliness. Not only did I have a very small circle, I was going through things that made it difficult to enjoy the circle I had. Twenty-seven years later, I can see that the people God put in my path back then were just the ones needed to sharpen me, to help me through my hard times and draw me closer to him.

More recently, I can see three different ways in which God has used my friends to “sharpen” me. 2026 makes nine years since I went through a very scary time in my life. There were a lot of things that happened, but the best way I can describe them is this: the enemy did all he could to get me off track, but Jesus did not let me go. Talking to my friend Charlotte later, I learned that she had been praying for me all through that time, as were many others. We need community to lift us up in prayer.

The second thing happened just today, when my friend Amanda thanked me for being such a good friend. It seems like such a small thing, but it was huge because I wasn’t feeling like a good friend at the time and I needed that reminder. We need community to remind us who we are.

A third friend approached me last week, asking questions about Jesus and the end times. It was humbling and thrilling at the same time to answer his questions and point him in the direction of hope. What a gift to be looked to as a person who knows how to find the answer to those questions! We need community because they need us too.

Dear Father, thank you that we need each other. Thank you that you meant for us to be in relationships, and not to live this life alone. Help us be there for each other and to recognize that you are always there for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Throughout this day: Who is a person in your life who makes you better? How can you thank them for that today?