My top enjoyment during my senior year at The University of Texas at Austin was praying with my best friend since high school. Although we both had met with Christians on Campus for nearly four years and attended Christian meetings and conferences together, we never once prayed together. When the Lord would speak to me about praying with her, I thought it was just me trying to be spiritual. To me, encouraging one another to attend Christian meetings and then sharing our enjoyment with each other was enough. Why did we have to pray together?
Yet, the Lord Jesus was faithful to add Himself to our relationship. During our senior year in college, our friendship began to crumble. As circumstances would have it, she moved from her previous apartment that was downstairs from me to another complex that was about a ten-minute drive. Because of the mere distance, it was less convenient for her to visit me. Slowly, I began to feel like she did not care for me as much as she did before. On the flip side, she began to feel like I had no time for her because I was occupied with a heavy school-load.
We gradually began to grow apart. Misunderstandings mounted, offenses followed, and harsh words were exchanged. There were long pauses in our phone conservations. It was even awkward to see each other at the meetings of Christians on Campus. For the first time, I had to think about what to say to her. Both of us were frustrated with the situation, but neither of us knew what to do. Without knowing this fully at the time, we were both desperate for the Lord to rebuild our relationship.
One day I was upset about a family situation. Immediately, I phoned my best friend. I started to tell her the situation. However, this time, instead of merely sympathizing with me, she asked if I would like to pray with her. At first, I was a little taken back, but, reluctantly, I agreed. As we began to pray, there was peace and oneness that I had never experienced between the two of us. By the end of our time of prayer, the awkwardness was gone. We were both amazed at the difference in our feelings and were encouraged to pray together in a regular way.
From that time on, we began to pray every Thursday evening for our brothers, parents, school projects, and other burdens. The Lord has been faithful to hear and answer our prayers, sometimes in an immediate, dynamic way. Furthermore, we can both testify that our relationship has been rebuilt with Christ through our time of prayer. My friend is more on my heart and in my personal prayers. She is still my close friend that I enjoy spending time with, but foremost she is my sister in the Lord. I am so thankful to the Lord Jesus who has added Himself to our relationship.
Lilly He
— Plano
