A Friend Loves at All Times
A devotional by Ashley Martin
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
—Proverbs 17:17 (NIV)
Piles of laundry spilled from the hamper, the refrigerator was bare, and both the dog and cat demanded attention because they had run out of food and patience. My houseplants drooped in silent thirst. My little boy craved attention, and my husband had left for a business trip at dawn. I stood in the middle of the kitchen, exhausted and emotionally frayed. “God, I feel overwhelmed and lonely right now,” I whispered in prayer. “Help me.”
Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Lindsay. “I am coming over,” her text read.
God answers like that. He knows precisely when to send the right person at exactly the right time. Lindsay understands me in ways words cannot always capture. Sometimes, her simple presence brings the calm my soul aches for. We met at Eufaula High School in Alabama. As we both taught eleventh graders, we began chatting between classes and after faculty meetings. A shared love of ‘90s music, travel, and true crime documentaries sparked our friendship, which quickly deepened. We spent every spare moment together until another relationship—my alcohol dependence—took over. I withdrew. But after I entered recovery and reached out with trembling humility, Lindsay embraced me without hesitation. Grace flowed through her, and our friendship was not only restored but transformed.
Then came the night that changed everything. The phone rang in the middle of the night, and Lindsay’s voice trembled with grief as she spoke about her 8-year-old son, Cade. He had been killed in a tragic ATV accident. I rushed to her side. In the quiet devastation of that moment, as I held her hand, she whispered through tears, “This is why you got sober.” Her words pierced through the pain. That moment bound our souls in something sacred—suffering shared, comfort offered, and love that did not wane. Two years later, when my son arrived two and a half months early, wrapped in tubes and uncertainty, Lindsay stood beside me again. She was one of the first people to cradle him with steady hands and unconditional love.
True friendship is forged not just in laughter but in the crucible of crisis. Lindsay and I have borne each other’s burdens—grief, growth, motherhood, and battles of the soul. Her love has been a steady echo of God's faithfulness in my life. Proverbs 17:17 came alive for me through her presence in my life, portraying a love that shows up, love that stays, and love that shines brightest in the darkest nights.
Lindsay's friendship has shown me the very heart of Proverbs 17:17—a living example of what it means to love unconditionally and to be there in times of trouble. The verse offers a timeless truth about the nature of authentic friendship: “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” Written by King Solomon, this proverb is part of a larger collection of wisdom literature in the Old Testament of The Holy Bible. It is intended to guide readers in godly living, relationships, and moral decision-making.
In ancient Hebrew culture, familial bonds were central, but Solomon elevates friendship to a similar—if not deeper—place. A true friend does not just appear in moments of ease but remains constant through life’s storms. The “brother” in adversity refers not just to biological kin but to someone who rises to the occasion, stepping into a role of spiritual brotherhood when trials hit hardest.
In today's world, where relationships often suffer from busyness and surface-level connections, Proverbs 17:17 reminds us to be present, faithful, and sacrificial. True friendship means showing up when it’s inconvenient, offering a prayer when words fail, and staying when others walk away. Whether in seasons of celebration or sorrow, godly friends embody Christ-like love—steadfast and unwavering. This verse reminds us that lasting friendship is not accidental but cultivated through loyalty, compassion, and courage in the face of hardship.
Let’s Pray:
Lord, thank You for the gift of faithful friends who reflect Your love in our lives. Help me to be the kind of friend who shows up in both joy and sorrow, offering grace, strength, and presence just as You do. Teach me how to show the agape love that Jesus Christ has for us, with everyone all times. Help me to stand firm in adversity as a true reflection of Your heart for humankind. Thank You for helping me to love others like You love me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.
Song of Reflection: “My Friend” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it here.
~*~
Author Bio:
Ashley Martin is a history teacher who has transitioned into a being a professional Christian writer and speaker.
Ashley Martin is a history teacher who has transitioned into a being a professional Christian writer and speaker.
She felt a calling to the ministry at the age of eighteen, having known God from a young age. However, her struggle with alcoholism hindered her from pursuing this path. For nearly twenty years, Ashley taught history while battling her addiction. In 2013, she entered treatment, and at that point, the barrier between her and God finally came down.
Since then, Ashley has been sharing her story and developing her ministry. For the last nine years, Ashley has been married to her husband, West. Together, they have an eight-year-old son named Grant, and Ashley has a fourteen-year-old stepdaughter named Cameron. They call Alabama home, and they enjoy traveling the world as a family.
Nowadays, Ashley continues to teach history to middle school, high school, and college students. She also works for an online women’s ministry named Called Creatives.
~*~
Connect with Ashley:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.klages.54/
My email: ashleyclairemartin@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.