HELEN SANDERS
7-24-2026
A FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER

It is difficult at times to be encouraged, especially if you live alone and have no children or family. Situations may come up financially, or physically, that causes you great discouragement.You may long to have a friend that would be there for you, but often the case is that friends stay away when things are going bad for us.

Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”

The old hymn, “What a Friend we have in Jesus” resonates in times that are hard. Proverbs 17:17a says, “a friend loveth at all times…” Jesus is that friend.

Jesus is as close as the mention of His name, but He is also the Word of God made flesh that we find as we read the scriptures. Reading the scriptures builds up our faith in low times like those we mentioned.

Jesus, our friend, gave his life for us. He is always available through prayer. John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” If you find yourself in a position with no friends, remember this: you must show yourself to be friendly. Just giving someone a smile can make their day better. Asking others if they need prayer will often be a way of making a new friend.

Regardless, if you have many, few, or no friends, you always can count on Jesus. He is the only friend that sticks closer than a brother through the bad and the good.