When Friction Forms Faith

I don't know why it is but real depth in things of the spirit only come about through difficulty. I know, I know that is something modern day Christians do not want to hear. There are too many public figure preachers all too willing to water down the word of the Lord. Too many Christians are into "Name it and Claim it," "Blab it and grab it," "call it and haul it," slot machine Christianity to hear what I said. Too many televangelist talkers who are too willing to slide down the Pole of prosperity in order to coax superficial saints to put money in the "G" String of their Get more money gospel.
Beloved the Bible does not authenticate a stress free, problem free, faith. All deep Christians have had to go through great trials, great sufferings, great challenges to achieve a sensitivity to the spiritual subterranean treasures that run like still waters deep beneath the surface of life.
Jesus said "In this world you will have trouble..." In Matthew 11 Jesus also says, "From the days of John The Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." This ain't no Cozy Christianity; this ain't no Comfort zone faith; this ain't no battle free belief we share with our Lord. It takes struggle; it takes some fighting; it takes some friction to grow you into one whose name is worthy to placed in the hall of fame of the faithful found in Hebrews 11.
And Proverbs 27:17 says "As Iron Sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
In other words we need people in our lives who will stretch us. If you have assembled folks around you who are only soothing instead of creating some struggle in you then you are wasting a needed area in you that has yet to come alive.
We need allies who agitate us into achieving new heights and new experiences. If the folks you call homeys and home girls don't stimulate you because they are striving to be better and to do better then you will end up sinking into substandard thinking about yourself.
Finally we need Friends who will keep some creative Friction between us to help sharpen our spiritual skills. If you have people who will not hold you accountable, folks who will not call you on the carpet, folks who won't challenge you then you do yourself a grave disservice. "Iron Sharpens iron..." If you want Steel in your back then you need friends who love you enough to make you struggle. If you want a deeper prayer life then you need people who care about you enough to push you even when you don't want to be pushed. If you want to grow in Faith you need friends who create creative Friction to test your metal.
Anais Nin says "There came a time when the risk to stay in the bud was more painful than the risk to blossom."
Paul said it like this "We know that Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us..."
Beloved gets some friends in your life who love you enough to create some creative Friction with you in order to strengthen you!