Choose another journal page

Stay in the journal. Choose a feeling, then open a reading.

I’m tired of auditioning.
Who put that label in charge?
My brain has 47 tabs open.
Can we stop replaying that?
I’ve got something to give. I think.
Full group chat. Nobody to call.
My “yes” is starting to sound cranky.
I’m tired. Is anything growing?
Everything keeps changing. I need something steady.

A page from the journal · Day 58 of 90

You Are Allowed Past the Formal Greeting

Open your Bible: John 15:9-17

Go straight to the reading ↓
An honest prayer58 / 90

You learn about the trip from the photographs. Everyone looks happy. You are happy for them, and hurt, and embarrassed that the hurt is quite so sharp. Jesus' words about friendship deserve more than a cheerful slogan on a day like this.

Read John 15:9–17. Jesus speaks to His disciples about remaining in His love, keeping His commands, and loving one another. He calls them friends and speaks of what He has made known to them from the Father.

The friendship He describes has substance: love, trust, truth, and a life offered for others. It doesn't erase the pain of human exclusion or promise that every relationship will become close. It gives us something solid to consider while we decide how to respond.

Begin with an honest conversation

Tell Jesus what hurt. You don't need to make it sound mature before bringing it to Him. Then consider whether a calm conversation with your friend would help. Ask what happened rather than treating a photograph as the full account.

You may also need to make room for new relationships or change what you expect from this one. Choose a response that can hold both truth and love. Neither requires pretending you were never hurt.

Email a friend

Save for later · share with a friend

You can take this slowly.

Respond to today’s reading

A conversation with room for you

What came up for you?

Answer the brave question, or respond to something that stayed with you.

What would I say to Jesus today if I stopped trying to sound impressive?

Write your answer in a journal, or ask a friend the same question this week.

Kindness belongs here. No personal attacks, shaming, promotions, spam, or sharing another person’s private information. Read the conversation guidelines.

Keep walking

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About this adaptation

Adapted for Soul Snacks from Beloved, Really, Day 58. Original devotion: Called Friends. Original full-edition PDF pages 173–174. This is an edited web adaptation, rather than a verbatim book excerpt. The featured verse is also provided as accessible text beside the graphic.

Prepared as an editorial draft. No publication date has been assigned.

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