The other night, I had a couple of friends over for dinner and conversation. It had been a busy day, and I hurriedly threw together a simple meal of Cajun rice and breadsticks. One of the gals showed up with a quart of strawberries and store-bought cookies. As I rinsed the strawberries, the other friend quickly folded cloth napkins with a fancy touch and set them near our plates.
Before sitting down to the rather impromptu meal, I thanked them for their willingness to be so easy to please. “I love comfy friends,” I smiled.
While I would not be relaxed serving such a hodgepodge meal to strangers, I sat and savored the evening with my unpretentious friends. No one complained about the simpleness of the meal; we were too busy enjoying each other’s company.
I’ve been carrying the thought of my “comfy friends” with me since then. And I’ve determined that I feel the same sense of ease with my Savior.
While I know that Jesus is holy and sovereign and amazingly awe-inspiring, He also calls me a friend. More than casual acquaintances, we are “comfy” companions, the kind who can sit together over a thrown-together meal of bread and rice.
Jesus does not want a showy display. He prefers to share the nitty-gritty of life with me, complete with all my raw emotions. He holds steady through the wonderful and the not-so-nice thoughts that race through my mind daily.
I do not need to appear all polished and poised as I approach Him. He doesn’t require I scramble to present Him a flawless performance, especially when I’m already out of breath from the day’s events.
He accepts these heartfelt scribbles from one still learning to color within the lines of His love. No matter how messy the offering.
Instead of requesting a five-course meal served on fine dinnerware, He encourages me to pull out the paper plates and some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Because our friendship is not about the extravagance of the entree; it is about time spent together.
I can enjoy His presence without worry that I might misstep or misspeak or not get things just right. Rather than busying myself with preparations to impress Him with beautifully arranged garnishes, He desires I serve up a hearty portion of real.
He wants my laughter and tears, my groanings and questions. And my praise.
Always my praise. No matter how the day has gone.
Responding with gratitude for His presence carries me through the less-than-stellar times. And the longer our time spent together, the more assured I am that His withness is my greatest treasure.
Knowing I have a Friend who always has my back is a gift I don’t want to take for granted.
Even when I’ve blown it and made a royal mess of things (which tends to happen on a fairly regular basis), Jesus shows up.
He is a Giver of grace and redemption again and again. Stepping beyond all pretense and moving past my excuses, He holds me through the struggles of coming to terms with myself.
Ours is a relationship that is deep and full even though my part in it makes it imperfect. It is so ridiculously one-sided — He the Giver and me the taker.
He comes whether I’m primed and prepared or if I’m a scattered, distraught mess of humanity. He enters without invitation. Because He knows, despite the wreck of my soul, He is welcome to wade through its clutter.
Thankfully, He is okay to do so. Because He is a God of comfort, but He is also comfy enough to come into my everyday life.
He steps into my troubles with friendship and deliverance in mind. And a determination to pull forth praise from my lips as I watch His love have its way again.
Here in the realness of me clinging to Him, I remember that perfection is not a prerequisite for being chosen.
Or for being comfy friends.
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FOR REFLECTION
Everyone needs some comfy friends. But to know that our Savior is one of them is mind-blowing.
Do you think of being with Jesus as a “comfortable” relationship, or are you more often on edge worrying that you are somehow a disappointment to Him?
I can guarantee you that Jesus loves spending time with you — quality time that is not for show. There’s no need to try to impress Him. He can handle the realness of you, no matter how good or how awful of a day it has been. So why not clear Him a spot at your table and simply enjoy His company?