Encouragement for Today

June 2, 2025 A Friend as Wonderful as You EMILY WILSON HUSSEM Lee en español

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 (NIV)

I’ve often wondered how friendship seems to come so much easier for other women than it does for me.

I’ve attended weddings where the bride had 12 bridesmaids, and I thought, How did she manage to cultivate such strong friendships with all those women? Countless photos fly across my screens, showing tight-knit friend groups that have remained close since high school. How have they done it? Sometimes it feels like I’ve made a mess of female friendships. I’ve also experienced betrayal, exclusion, and plenty of hurt.

Throughout different life seasons, I’ve struggled to fight back against the lie the enemy whispers: You’ll never find friends who love you for who you are and want to share deep bonds in life. Throughout my 14 years of walking with women in ministry, I’ve discovered I’m not alone in feeling this way.

Through deep reflection and prayer, I’ve realized how intensely the enemy wants to amplify the lies in my heart, saying that true, deep connection just isn’t possible for me … that I will always be this lonely … and that if other women knew me, they wouldn’t even like me, much less love me as a friend. The enemy wants to harden women’s hearts toward community and friendship with one another by getting us to believe that we are unlikable, unlovable, or guaranteed to get hurt no matter how hard we try.

Satan has always wanted women to despair over these lies so that instead of going out to seek community, we simply throw up our hands in defeat, stay home, and wallow in this sorrow forever. It took me years of prayer, vulnerability, and investment, but when I decided to fight back against the lies and make those efforts — allowing the Lord to soften my heart to believe that true, lasting friendship is possible for me — beautiful friendships rooted in the Lord began to grow in my life.

As I replaced lies with truth, God gave me a new heart toward friendships. Ezekiel 36:26 speaks of the new heart God gives us through grace:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”

God wants to set you free from the lies. He wants you to know and believe that community and true friendship are for you. In this newfound freedom and belief I experienced, I realized friendship would not just show up at my door. The first step in finding rooted friendships is often reaching out to others — and letting God’s faithfulness lead the way.

You have no idea who may be looking for a friend as wonderful as you.

Loving God, please soften any areas of my heart that have been hardened toward friendship with other women. Help me to believe that good friendships rooted in Your heart are possible for me. Please strengthen my current friendships, and lead me to any women You want me to befriend. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

In the spirit of C.S. Lewis’ classic The Screwtape Letters, Emily shines a light on the lies and tactics Satan uses to burden modern women with doubt, fear, insecurity, and discouragement — and empowers you with the truth that will set you free. Sincerely, Stoneheart invites you to look with new eyes at your faith, your daily choices, and your self-image through the beautiful reality that your true identity — mind, heart, and soul — is beloved.

ENGAGE

For a special sneak peek at Emily’s new book, click here to read a FREE sample!

Enter to WIN your very own copy of Sincerely, Stoneheart by Emily Wilson Hussem. To celebrate this book, Emily’s publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by filling out the form here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and notify them via email by Monday, June 9, 2025.}

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Romans 12:10, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves” (NIV).

Who is one friend who has weathered the storms of life with you and helped you grow into the woman you are today? Say a prayer for her today, and leave her first name here in the comments.

© 2025 by Emily Wilson Hussem. All rights reserved.

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