By Makayla Franks

For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to have that picture-perfect “bff”.

It was especially important to me as I was entering high school. I desired a close friend that I could hang out with and talk about anything and everything. Being homeschooled, it was especially difficult to find that. I prayed all the time for a friend, hoping to fill that loneliness.

Then, a couple of years ago, I found what I thought was just that. I connected with a girl my age, and we quickly became very close. It was that friendship I thought I needed to be a “normal” teenage girl. I always had someone to hang out with, go to when I needed to talk, or laugh till we were in tears. That loneliness and longing that I felt was suddenly filled. Everything was going great. I had a best friend forever. We were facing high school together, and nothing could go wrong, or so I thought.

After a couple of years, we started going our separate ways. Different things happened; new people entered our lives, and I quickly realized I no longer had a best friend. This devastated me. I became bitter and angry. I did not understand, and I struggled to find peace and joy.

After months of feeling this way, I came to a place of forgiveness and found joy again. However, this was not on my own. I had to realize that I wanted what the world told me I needed to fill my life with, not what God provided for me. While having friendships in high school is important, I could not rely on a person to always be there.

The only one who will genuinely be there and never leave is God, and I had to learn to rely on Him to be my “best friend forever.” As I began to do that, He provided me with exactly what I needed and wanted. He brought friendships into my life that I could relate to and who helped me grow closer to God instead of away from Him.

About the Author: Makayla Franks, known by her family and friends as Squirrel, lives in Athens, AL. She is active in her parents’ church planting ministry, singing in the Praise Team in both English and Spanish. She loves baking all kinds of treats and plans to attend Welch College in 2024.