It’s important to have happy relationships with our friends and families. Surrounding ourselves with those we love is good for our emotional well-being, and it makes life sweeter. However, there’s one connection that’s more important than any other bond we could have. A relationship with Jesus Christ enriches and enhances our lives like no other earthly relationship could ever do.

Most people know about Jesus without actually knowing Him personally; there’s a big difference between the two. Religion teaches the concepts and principles of Jesus, but stops just short of taking us where we need to be because of its limitations. Many of us have experienced personal issues in our lives, called out to God for help, and then inexplicably felt His presence all around us. “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). Jesus always comes to us when we ask for Him.

God wants a close, personal relationship with us no matter how many mistakes we’ve made. He’s always willing to accept us, flaws and all. He’ll never condemn or reject us for the things we’ve done wrong. When everyone else lets us down and turns against us, God sticks by us. “There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24, NLT).

Some people are difficult to be friends with. Their human frailties and insecurities can get in the way when we depend on them to support and stand by us in tough times. They can lose their temper, hurt us, or turn their backs on us. God will never do that. “But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15, NLT).

Some “friendships” are actually toxic relationships in disguise. These kinds of unhealthy relationships can drain us emotionally and cause us to make foolish decisions. Making friends with people who influence us negatively can cause us to go down the wrong path in life. This isn’t God’s will for us.

God cares about us so much that He’s always reaching out in love. He’s a master at working through others to get to us. When we’ve lost our way and need some redirection, He puts friends in our paths. “The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense” (Proverbs 27:9, NLT). True friends don’t simply tickle our ears telling us what we want to hear, but instead speak the truth in love.

Godly friendships involve being with others who have our best interests at heart. Friends differ from casual acquaintances in that we can relax and be ourselves around our friends, knowing that they’ll still accept us when they know the real “us.” We can enjoy each others’ company in the knowledge that everyone involved benefits from the relationship. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17, NLT).

God loves us and wants to become deeply involved in our lives. He’s waiting for us to acknowledge Him and invite Him into everything we do on a daily basis. “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends” (Revelation 3:20, NLT). It’s up to us to let Him in or shut Him out.