Brave Friends
We are braver and stronger in the face of fiery challenges when we walk alongside one another.
You’ve probably heard the story of the fiery furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar requested royal, noble Israelites, including children, be brought to Babylon. Among those were the young men Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 1:6–7). As the story of Daniel continues, King Nebuchadnezzar attempts to indoctrinate these young men to his kingdom and culture, but they continue to worship God alone. When Daniel’s friends wouldn’t worship the golden image Nebuchadnezzar created of himself, the king threw the friends into the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:13–18). Even when they learned of their fate, Daniel’s friends stay steadfast in their commitment to God. The king made it extra hot and had Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego bound before he threw them in the fire. But they emerged alive—and Nebuchadnezzar saw a fourth man who protected them in the fire (Daniel 3:19–26).
The bravery of Daniel and his friends changed the king’s perspective of their God through this experience and others: “Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, ‘Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way’” (Daniel 3:29–30). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego literally faced death together and came out stronger, surely with deeper faith in the God they weren’t willing to ignore.
These brave friends remind me there’s safety in numbers and community in Christ. We can submit to God and avoid the world’s temptations together. We can glorify God in mighty ways when we share in side-by-side love amid the most challenging circumstances.
I think of my friends who have walked through so many hills and valleys together, each of us becoming braver in the process. My closest friends are people with whom I’ve shared deep grief, long-awaited celebrations, lots of waiting, and a million smaller moments that come together to show me God’s faithfulness. Our experiences deepen our faith and to do that together is sweet communion. These friends were among those who helped build my faith in the face of fiery furnaces in my life, such as becoming a Christian as a teenager with a family who was indifferent about it all, wanting to have children but not being able to become pregnant, navigating adoption processes, and grieving the loss of my dad when his death revealed secrets that further complicated our father-daughter relationship.
I’ve seen brave friendship among my middle-aged mom friends, but I’ve also seen it in the next generation. School can be a struggle for my middle child, Ben, but God reminded me one day in the fall of 2022 that Ben has a purpose there beyond learning how to divide fractions and the branches of the U.S. government. I learned another mom I don’t really know emailed the school principal to brag about my son, who noticed her son crying alone in a middle school classroom. When Ben approached this other student, they had a conversation about anxiety that strikes deeply on hard days. The boys’ circumstances and experiences are different, but Ben initiated a conversation that led them to common ground. That moment of brave friendship may not have changed whatever each boy is facing, but the exchange offered hope that neither is alone in their fiery furnaces.
No matter our age, we need people with shared experiences who make easy company and help us be brave. The strength fostered in community gives us all confidence to face whatever surprises, hardships, and interruptions come our way.
I also know Jesus walks among us as our protector and provider, just like He did in the fiery furnace in Babylon. He gives resources to rebuild from a flood. He gives grace and wisdom when a family falls apart. He is the ultimate healer when our bodies fail us. Together, we can witness God’s faithfulness and cling to Him when this world tries to trip up our faith journeys. That’s how to be brave together.
Consider Communion
Remember a time a friend helped you be brave. Maybe she encouraged you to speak up about something, prompted you to try something new, or accompanied you to a scary appointment. Maybe she provided a listening ear and then prayed with you. Journal about how that bravery spurred you beyond one situation to have more confidence in general.
Cultivate Communion
Who in your life is experiencing her own fiery furnace of disappointment, brokenness, or isolation? Think about practical ways you can be the friend she needs to bravely make it to the other side. Maybe you can go with her to an appointment, help her sort through whatever mess she’s dealing with, or just have an honest conversation to help her along. Or, if you’re facing a fiery furnace, reach out to a friend and share your struggles. Then pray together for courage.
*****
This is one chapter from Created for Communion: Discovering God’s Design for Biblical Friendship. There is another sample available on my website along with other freebies, like One Another verses and a playlist. Buy the whole book here. Or read other excerpts: Purposeful Friends and Suffering Friends. Learn more about the publishing process in the post “Confessions of a Self-Published Author.”