I’ve been a church girl pretty much all my life, and as a result have learnt a few things about sisterhood, community and the gift of friendship. For me church is far more than just attending a 2-hour service on a Sunday morning. Unity between women demonstrates the love of Christ. It helps us to embrace each other regardless of past mistakes and failures. I’ve honed in on what I’ve learnt from being surrounded by a growing sisterhood community, hoping it will encourage you to lean further into God’s gift of friendship.
1. Come as you are
The beauty of sisterhood in the church is that we can come as we are. With all our fears, failures, worries and mess-ups, we don’t have to wear a mask or be someone we’re not. Especially in today’s society where we try to show only our best bits- it’s exhausting right? Always trying to be perfect? What sisterhood in the church helped and challenged me to do, is to embrace who I am. Women who love each other for who Christ made them to be is so refreshing in a world where real and fake are blurred. It’s an atmosphere like none other when women who all gather under no other name are real, honest, accepting and are your back bone when times of difficulty strike.
2. These are friendships for life
I’ve had a lot of friendships that were for a season; friendships which expired. Not because of personal choice, but because in life sometimes not everyone will always be there for you. Events take place, you mature, God sends you places, and suddenly those that were always there, end up not to be. Sisterhood has enabled me to create beautiful Christ-centred friendships. Anything that has Christ as its foundation is set to last, so lets make Him the firm foundation of the friendships we form in the church and they too will not perish. Random texts throughout the week, acts of kindness, words of encouragement prayers which set the rhythm for your week: the women in my church do kindness like no other. Even when I’m away, travelling or buried under work, they are there. These are the friendships for life.
3. Being different is OK
What always amazes me about sisterhood is the sheer diversity of women. Different stories, different paths, yet we all gather under the same name. There’s no other place on earth I’d find such a diversity of people who are actually all united as one. No matter the story, the interests or past experiences, conversation flows ceaselessly as we love each other for who they. In the world, so often we conform to who others want us to be just to fit in. What I learnt from sisterhood is that that theory doesn’t apply- you can be who you were created to be, wear anything regardless of where it’s from, not even have a job and you will be accepted and loved.
4. Seasons of struggle
Hardly any relationships are perfect. They all have their challenges at times. Challenges we so often want to run from. Sadly, during my time growing up in church I have seen many people leave the house of Lord because they were too scared to correct a relationship that folded. The church is full of real people who love Christ, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its issues too. The relationship between those in the church should reflect the relationship Christ has with us: relentlessly loving, accepting, not judging and putting right what the enemy has tried to rob. The sisterhood should empower, build up, inspire and influence the entire church. Let’s not allow small disagreements to overtake our love for one another.
5. Seeing friendship as God’s gift
We so often take God’s gifts to us for granted: a new day, sound vision, food to eat, friendships… If we truly believe that every day is a gift- a present- from God to us, then our perspective of the day changes. We don’t waste it- we embrace it. The same goes for friendships. I am surrounded by some of the most courageous, kind, inspiring women of God who are a gift from Him to me. If I truly believe this then I put time, effort and energy into embracing what God has given me. You become like those that you surround yourself with. Let’s not gossip or slander about one another- we were created as gifts to one another, so lets love and honour each other with an overflowing joy. It’s sad when women are jealous of one another, envying their sisters in christ. The sisterhood unity should inspire women all over the world (both in church and not). Let’s use what God has given us and take it beyond the church doors, and share this gift with the world.
By Lisa Walden