Let's listen to verse 3 of this beautiful old hymn Friendship With Jesus, which talks about Jesus being a great friend in tough times:
A friend when sickness lays me low
A friend when death draws near
A friend as through the vale I go
A friend to help and cheer.
Jesus Is a Friend in Tough Times
Thank God that in Jesus we have a friend for tough times. Perhaps you have heard of 'fair weather friends' before - these are the type of friends who are there with you when the weather is fair, and things are going well, but who disappear when things get tough.
But Jesus is not a 'fair weather friend'! He won't leave us alone in times of sickness. He won't leave us alone when death draws near. He is with us as we go through valleys - which is what 'through the vale' means, by the way.
How Jesus Helps and Cheers Us
I like how the songwriter says Jesus comes to help and to cheer when we are in tough times. His help is wonderful, isn't it? He gives strength to our weary bones and assists us as we limp along. He even cheers us with His presence.
I remember my trips to the hospital over the years, when I was recovering from surgery. It was special to have friends come and visit - their presence helped me and boosted me, and cheered me as I lay there. Jesus does this for us in a spiritual sense - perhaps we are going through difficult times, and He comes alongside us and boosts us and cheers us up - if we are in a friendship with Him.
When Jesus Feels Distant in a Hard Season
Of course, sometimes it feels as if He is distant, when we're in that hard season. We don't quite feel Him like we did in the good times, so we begin to doubt that He is really there.
But let me remind you that the best friends are not necessarily the loudest ones! Sometimes, when you are struggling, the good friend is the one who simply sits with you - with a small mouth and big ears! Could it be that through the hardships of life, as we lie on our hospital beds, so to speak, Jesus is always right there as a faithful friend, perhaps not saying much, but listening to your heart as you pour it out?
When you struggle, don't forget that Jesus your friend is near. You can trust in Him as a faithful companion through it all.
Jesus draws near in sickness and hardship, even when He feels silent. Trust His presence today and tell Him honestly how you are doing.