Whole 07: Understanding the Seasons of Friendship & Help for When Friends Hurt You

We know that meaningful friendships require time and investment… so what do we do as moms when we have so little of these things to spare?! Or what if we have a great mom-to-mom friendship, but our kids struggle to get along or our lives are starting to look totally different from one another? In this episode, Emily and Laura go DEEP on the joy and hardship of maintaining solid friendships throughout various seasons of motherhood. From how to handle it when a friendship falters to what to consider as you’re pursuing God-glorifying relationships, this show is a can’t-miss if you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head at how to love others well despite your limited capacity. God designed us for flourishing, sanctifying friendships, so let’s be willing to think about this area of our lives intentionally and honor him as we do.

Mentioned on the Show:

Whole Series Landing Page
Holy Week + Easter Resources
Proverbs 17:17
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Proverbs 27:17
John 15:1-8
Ep. 38 || Friendship & Motherhood
John 15:12-15
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Related Resources from R|M:

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Freebie!

Whole: Reflection and Prayer Journal

We’ve got your wheels turning, now it’s your turn to pray through and reflect on how each week’s topic could apply to your own day-to-day life. Let this journal be your safe place to think outside of your typical bounds, get a little creative, and write bold prayers.
Friendly reminder, mom to mom: every season of motherhood looks different, especially in terms of capacity! If you’re up all night with a newborn right now, “creativity” may look completely different than if you have school-aged kiddos. Give yourself grace and know you can print this journal out again and again, season by season!
*This download is completely free when you sign up for the Risen Motherhood email list— fill out the form below to get this free download straight to your inbox!*

R|M Apply Questions:

When it comes to maintaining friendships, what kind of pressure and expectations do you put on yourself? Consider a few ways you can love your friends, even if it doesn't match your ‘ideal’ scenario.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Think about your closest friends; what does it look like to love them as individuals, with different motivations and concerns? What are some ways you can build them up in small but impactful ways?
In the show, Emily and Laura remind us that we can’t expect one friend to fulfill all of our needs and expectations. Is there anything you need to repent of in terms of unreasonable expectations you’ve placed on friendships? Trust God that as you bring these real hurts and fears to him in prayer, he will bind up your wounds (Ps. 147:3) and care for you in this.
Read Proverbs 27:17. Who are those friends in your life that draw you closer to Christ? Identify 1-2 friendships like these that you want to intentionally invest in and make time for, even in the busyness of mom life, knowing they’ll spur you on as a woman of God.

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