In the Lord of Rings series, there were four hobbits talking to one another saying…
“But it does not seem that I can trust anyone,' said Frodo.
Sam looked at him unhappily. 'It all depends on what you want,' put in Merry. 'You can trust us to stick with you through thick and thin--to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours--closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo.”
-J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Have you ever felt like Frodo? Frodo was struggling with who to trust, feeling like everyone around him wanted what he carried (the ring) and he didn’t know who was safe. I listened to a story of betrayal so deep yesterday that even I felt the sting of disappointment and pain simply in hearing. Once you have had a relationship fail and break apart under pressure, you know how hard it is to learn to trust others again. If you have been hurt and you are afraid to trust others again, this is my prayer for you today…
Lord, we come to you and offer up to you our brokenness, and the pain of disappointment. I choose by an act of my will to forgive ______________, and choose to bless them. Give me your strength Lord to take new risks with others, protect me from my own desires to build up walls that would keep others out. I ask that you would tear down the unhealthy walls I have already built to keep others away in fear. I ask that you would teach me by your Holy Spirit what good healthy boundaries and limits look like. Send me others who I can be of one heart with. Amen.
Merry’s response to Frodo is a wonderful response to the fear, loneliness and despair of a friend who has been hurt by others. Merry is taking a few stones out of the wall Frodo has created and encouraging him to begin to trust again. I like Merry’s attitude, it’s a persistence and long suffering that I want to have in my life. He refuses to let his hurting friend lock himself up in a tower where real relationships will never thrive again, nor is he willing to let him run away. Friends who are living out the command of Jesus to love one another, will keep reaching out. If you are trying to relate to a discouraged and hurt “Frodo” in your life today, this prayer is for you…
Lord, thank you that you have plans for ______________. I pray that you would bless them with wisdom and revelation from your throne today. Holy Spirit, guide me, give me the right words to say, help me love my friend well. Give me patience and grace for this situation. We need new faith to believe that you came to make all things new – including relationships. Show me where you would like me to sacrifice and give away my time, energy, money or other resources to help ______________ heal. Teach me to listen, to be slow to speak, to ask good questions, and genuinely have a broken heart for the things that break your heart. Use me Lord, I am available. Speak to me and through me so that your kingdom would be built through gifts of friendship. Amen.
We exist to experience and share the life to the fullest that Jesus offered to us, our relationships are a key part of walking in community that will bring us the fullness of joy.