I’ve mentioned before that I like the music of James Taylor. One of his most popular songs is one he did not write, but he sang it well. It was a little piece written by Carole King.

When you’re down and troubled and you need a helping hand
And nothing, nothing is going right Close your eyes and think of me
and soon I will be there To brighten up even your darkest night.
You just call out my name And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again. Winter – spring – summer – or fall
All you have to do is call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

We all need friends. Not the ones who say they will be our friends but don’t live up to their promise. We need the friends who will come through for us. Friendship is vital, especially when you are lonely. You want someone to listen to your problems, someone who cares, someone who loves you, even when you mess up! We need friends like that. And we need to be friends like that.

You’ve probably heard the expression “He (or she) doesn’t have a prayer.” Those words are used to describe a hopeless situation. Have you ever felt that way? Wouldn’t it have been nice to have someone to talk to? Wouldn’t it be nice to talk to God and know that He is listening? He is. This is what He says to you:

You just call out my name And you know wherever I am
I’ll come running to see you again. Winter – spring – summer – or fall
All you have to do is call And I’ll be there – You’ve got a friend.

With God on your side, you are not hopeless. And God doesn’t just make promises and then ignore you when you call out to Him. He’s there. He comes running. He is by your side. You need to know without a doubt that God is your friend. You’ve Got a Friend.

Those first disciples of Jesus had times when they felt lonely, isolated and uncertain. They needed a friend. They might even have felt betrayed. Jesus was their friend, but He started talking about leaving them. He was talking about dying. The disciples had left everything to follow Jesus. They walked away from their fishing businesses. They left their homes, their families. They allowed themselves to believe that Jesus was the one who would change everything, who would make everything right. They believed he was the Messiah, the Savior, the Promised One.  And now he was talking about leaving them? Imagine how they felt! Why had Jesus asked them to follow Him if he intended to leave them? Why had he brought them this far only to abandon them? I’m sure the disciples felt that they needed a friend. Jesus knew that his disciples were afraid, that they needed a friend. And He would be that friend.

Jesus had come to be their friend, but He also came to be the Savior of everyone. To accomplish that, He would indeed have to die. That would be the payment for the sins of the world. But He rose back to life in victory on Easter. And that friend is still with us today.

Remember that when you feel lonely and isolated and uncertain. You need a friend. And Jesus is that friend you need.