“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)
By Dave Mazanowski
Coming alongside someone when life is going well isn’t all that remarkable. But being there in moments of weakness, failure, shame, and brokenness—that’s when the rubber meets the road.
I think it’s best reflected in a quote from Ulysses S. Grant: “The friend in my adversity I shall always cherish most. I can better trust those who helped to relieve the gloom of my dark hours than those who are so ready to enjoy with me the sunshine of my prosperity.”
I was that broken friend, and my brother Randy came alongside me in a powerful way. My situation had a long runway, and the outcome was anything but certain. From my perspective, the only sure thing was that my life was about to change for the worse.
Over a period of three years, Randy and I talked two to three times a week. He consistently sent me encouraging Scripture passages and words of encouragement. What impacted me most was his unwavering excitement about the future and the good he believed would come from my adversity. He would say, “You are going through a time of incredible grace. Cherish the time.” And he was right.
Randy told me I would share my story with thousands, testifying to God’s redemptive power—and again, he was right. His hope for my future was a human reflection of what Jesus had in store for me. It reframed how I saw my life in Christ and was instrumental in how I moved through that season. In many ways, he was prophesying about what was to come.
Since then, I’ve had friends who needed me in their own seasons of brokenness. Randy’s example has inspired me to be Christ to them—to breathe hope and life into them through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pray
Lord, when faced with adversity, help me to find the friend who will walk with me and bring me into your light.
Reflect
How can we reframe our lives with Christ, especially when we’re faced with adversity.
Discuss
Have you gone through a time when God’s grace guided you through the challenges you faced? How can you repay his grace?
Dave Mazanowski is a board member of WorkLight. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana, with his wife, Donna. He is the co-founder of Mainscape Inc., a commercial landscape maintenance firm, and he can be reached at damazanowski@mainscape.com.