Devotionals for the Heart: What makes a true friend who loves unconditionally

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)

Jetlag clung to me like fog after returning to the USA. I had only been home from Greece for 24 hours, and the reality of daily life rushed in with full force.

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.

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Author Bio:

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.

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Connect with Ashley:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.klages.54/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleymartinministry/

My email: ashleyclairemartin@gmail.com

Devotionals for the Heart: Reflections on a beautiful moment with God

When God Comes Near
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” –Psalms 121:1-2 (NIV)

Where does your help come from? In times of trouble, I like to go to a place that brings me comfort. But when I’m really struggling and need to get closer to God for help, He draws me to mountain tops, and to get to the top of a mountain you must first climb.

Yes, you read that right. God calls me to climb for His help. There must be some easier way, right? For you, there may be. But, if you’re stubborn like me, God knows He must get me out of the way first in order to help me. I call it God’s graceful tearing down of the me who is, to the building up of who I must become.

When I was young, my parents took my siblings and I to a place called Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park. The drive spans over 40 miles, and along the way there many trails to hike, marvelous waterfalls to take in, and outlooks for the perfect picture background. My favorite place there was The Big Meadow, where you could ride around it in a big wagon pulled by the most elegant Clydesdale horses. At first, I was scared to pet them. They are large animals in general, but to an eight-year-old they were ginormous—much the way people perceive God, the Maker of the Universe.

So, not surprisingly, during one of my greatest struggles as an adult when I asked God for help, He told me to go to the highest place I could find in Skyline Drive. On an Autumn day in early October, I drove to the highest spot along the drive and stopped. I knew the Big Meadow was not far beyond and a wagon ride sounded like fun, but as I took my foot off the break, I felt in my spirit, “You’re here to climb.”

After a bit of grumbling, I parked in the nearest lot and walked to the closest trail. After a mile or two of hiking up and down the winding trail, pausing for strength, contemplating a defiant withdraw, then vowing not to turn back, I made it to the peak where only a young couple and a dad with his two kids had ventured.

The promised, brilliant view was...overlaid with fog. I couldn’t see a thing down below the rocks. So, though I am terrified of open-air heights, I climbed out as far as I could on jagged terrain, settle down with my journal, and wrote, “Ok, you got me here. Now what?” Other responses and feelings flowed, and after a while I looked up to find I was alone.

The fog drifted back at an alarming rate, allowing me to see how high up God had brought me, and how far out on the edge of the cliff I had climbed because the fog had hidden the expanse below me. I was paralyzed with fear. I closed my eyes and prayed to God for help. And God came near. I had no doubt as I felt a tremendous peace wash over me, followed by a sudden warmth lift within my spirit. I could behold all that was before me – a vast, beautiful valley – in complete wonder.

I’ll never forget what God spoke to my heart: “Do you see how far you’ve come? What I can overcome, and how high I can take you when you don’t see with your eyes, but trust me with you heart?” I felt such a hope – the kind that reaches above all understanding – when you know that anything is possible not just with God, but all because of Him. And, that no matter your current circumstances, when you ask His help, the God of the universe will reach down for you.

Have you experienced a “God came near” moment? Tell us about it in the comments.

Do you need God’s help in your current circumstance? You can ask Him for it anytime. He’s always ready to come nearer to you.

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Author Bio:

Mirachelle Canada is a writer, playwright, screenwriter, and theatre director/producer from Northern Virginia, where she teaches television production at her high school alma mater.

She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is an alumnus of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program.

Mirachelle is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, American Fiction Writers Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.

She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII.

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Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan

Devotionals for the Heart: Anxiety

How to love someone with anxiety
A devotional by Jessica Brodie

Mental illness runs in my family, and several close relatives, including my daughter, have major struggles with anxiety.

I spent a lot of my life believing I had a personal responsibility to fix what was wrong in the world. That meant not only being an advocate and speaking up for those who are marginalized and oppressed in general, but also doing what I can to help those I love who struggle with anxiety, whether through advocacy, awareness or caregiving.

However, I am just one human being, and I have learned over the years that I am only able to do anything for others through the Lord Jesus Christ. What that means is “Jessica can’t fix anything nearly as well as God can.” In fact, the only thing I can really try to fix is myself—and even for that I need a savior! Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, not me!

But as a mom particularly, I still wrestle with that balance. It’s really important to me that my daughter feels loved and supported in the midst of her personal struggles with mental illness. Some days are far more difficult than others. They include panic attacks, or an inability to sleep because her mind-racing fears keep her awake far past her bedtime (and mine). Other days are far easier.

Our journey has taught me a few things I can do to love her well, and all these things are rooted in Scripture.

Here, then, are five key ways I’ve learned I can love someone with anxiety.

1) Listen well

James 1:19 (ESV) says, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.”

There’s a saying I appreciate: God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. Being a good listener is really important, especially when it comes to loving someone with anxiety. Sometimes it helps when my daughter, or others I love with anxiety, just have an ear. They can freely express all the issues spinning around in their brains. A really good thing I can do for them is hear them. Listen. Nod. Understand. It goes long way.

2) Acknowledge

The apostle John tells us in 1 John 3:18, “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.”

This has a lot in common with listening, but it goes deeper. Acknowledging is more than just hearing someone, but rather accepting the full weight of what someone is saying or feeling, admitting its existence and importance to them. Anxiety and other mental illness are often considered “invisible illness,” so the world often dismisses it as “only in their head.” But like cancer, fibromyalgia and other ailments, it’s real. And there are often physical effects along with the mental. Acknowledging can help buffer that stigma and help your loved one recognize what’s happening and how to get through.

3) Support

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”

A lot of times, people with anxiety feel very much alone, as though no one else can understand what they are going through. I might not be able to understand what a panic attack feels like or how to rein in the overwhelming sense of doom and dread my daughter experiences with anxiety, but I can walk with her. I can help her know she’s not alone. I can also do other things: help her cling to God in the midst of her pain, take her to therapy, give her access to medication if needed, and be a stable presence in the storm.

4) Understand I can’t fix it

God tells us through the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 43:11, “I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.”

I can help my loved one with resources, get them the therapy and medication they need, and do all the other things mentioned above, but this is their journey, their struggle, their proverbial “cross to bear,” not mine. They must get through whatever that looks like. It’s not my job to fix the problem, nor is it possible, and I need to know that. They also need to know that; only Jesus is their savior.

5) Don’t take it personally

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Sometimes my daughter will lash out at me, as though I caused her anxiety. At times like these, it helps to remind myself she’s scared or upset at the problem, not me. Loving someone goes way beyond mere emotion. My love for her doesn’t depend on whether she’s nice or snippy or well-behaved or not. It doesn’t mean she can walk all over me—I have to set boundaries for myself, too. But it’s good to know it’s not about me.

How about you—do you have any other Scriptures or key ways that help you love someone with anxiety? Share in the comments below!

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Author Bio: 

Jessica Brodie is an award-winning Christian novelist, journalist, editor, blogger, and writing coach and the recipient of the 2018 American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award for her novel, The Memory Garden. 

She is also the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, and a member of the Wholly Loved Ministries team. 

Learn more about her fiction and read her faith blog at http://jessicabrodie.com.

Devotional: YOU are Always Welcome

Always Welcome
A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

Have you ever been scared of wearing out your welcome?

I’ve been there.

God has blessed me with wonderful friends and family who care about me and want to be there for me. However, I am scared to “wear out my welcome” with these people—as wonderful as they may be—so I keep most of my issues to myself. But lately, God’s impressed this devotional thought on my heart—that with Him, I am always welcome.

Neither you nor I can wear out our welcome when we go to God. He created you so He cares about everything that happens to you…everything.

I thank God for the wonderful people He’s placed in my life who are open to being there for me. My brother has said it’s never too late to call him. My Mom is always there for me even if some of my issues are on repeat. One of my dear friends who is a prayer warrior said I can text her anytime and one of my church friends told me that it’s never TMI because they love me and want to support me.

But still, I realize that they’re human as I am and we as humans can get weary of trying to help someone work through their issues. So I never tell them everything which is wise because the only person who will never fail you is God.

However, I do realize that having my walls up high keeps out hurt but also keeps out love (as a life coach advised me). So I’m working on trying to be more open with the people in my life who care about me. I realized years ago that I’ll never know who can be there for me if I never give them a chance to be there for me.

Most importantly, I realize that God, our Heavenly Father, cares about each and every one of His creation. He loves you and me with a fierce passion and He has endless resources and ways to help us with anything that we may face in this life here on Earth.

Best of all, God is available 24/7/365 for all of eternity. He never sleeps! He’s always awake and working to make all things work together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). And He’s patient with those who do not love Him or know Him because He wants us ALL to be saved!

So, I’d like to encourage you today to yes, go to the people in your life who care about you and can help you with whatever you’re facing but first and foremost, go to God. Ask Him to help you and ask Him to place the people in your life who He wants to help you.

And never, ever, think that God gets tired of your prayers! No! Pray to Him about everything—your joys, your fears, your hopes, your dreams and yes, your problems! Pray to Him any time of the day or night! He’s always available and ready to help you. Best of all, you can never wear our your welcome because with God you are always welcome.

God bless you, my dear friends.

Love,

Alexis A. Goring
Founder of “God is Love” blog

Devotionals for the Heart: Friends who help and a God who saves

A friend comes to help…
A devotional by Melissa Henderson

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. – Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)

Living near ponds and rivers means there will be new and different creatures to learn about. From alligators to lizards to snakes, I am learning more than I ever wanted to know about these creatures.

Recently, I looked out of my side window and noticed a snake sunning itself on my neighbor’s front doormat. Since I am afraid of snakes, and my husband was at work, I called my next door neighbor on the other side of the house. This man enjoys all kinds of wildlife and whenever I see something that scares me or causes me concern, this nice neighbor comes to the rescue.

The neighbor, his wife and one of their grandchildren came right over to calm me. The nice lady in the house where the snake was sunning, came to the front window and looked at us standing in the yard. We motioned to her that we were watching something.

Going through her back door, this neighbor gathered with us. I was afraid. I prayed for the snake to go away. It did. Traveling into the siding of the house next door was not where we had intended that thing to end up.

My neighbors, who are interested in nature truly comforted me. The nice man and his granddaughter taught me some things about nature.

After several attempts to find the creature, everyone went home. Each time the friends returned home, the snake returned outside to sun. Each time I saw it, I called the neighbor again.

These neighbors were patient and kind. They never complained about me calling them because I was scared. Each time, they came to my yard and chatted with me.

After numerous calls to the neighbors, I finally spotted the snake slithering back to the creek behind the neighborhood. I hope it doesn’t come back any time soon.

Through all this stressful time, I thanked God for neighbors who comfort and come whenever I call. They are busy with their own activities. They could have just told me not to worry and went on about their daily routines.

Yet, each time, the neighbors came to my house, comforted me and made me feel safe.

Through the whole situation, I was comforted by friends and most of all by God, who comforts with His unfailing love and compassion. His peace will not be removed.

Thank you, Lord, for friends who comfort and care.

Have a blessed day,

Melissa Henderson

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Author Bio:

Melissa Henderson and her husband Alan live in South Carolina.

Married for over 38 years, they have one son (Mike) who is married to daughter-in-love (Christine) and now are blessed by a precious grandson (Rowan).

Melissa was taught the love of reading and writing at an early age from her parents. She is now working on her first inspirational fiction novel.

Her passions are volunteering, Bible Studies and reading and writing. Connect with Melissa online, https://mimionlife.wordpress.com.