Proverbs 4:14-17, ESV Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

You finally reached it – the crossroad of a relationship or friendship. How did you get there? Where did it go wrong? You are now facing decisions that will forever change the course of an established relationship. There’s no turning around. You feel paralyzed as you look left and right down a long and unfamiliar road, but the cost of turning around is just too great – Why? Turning around would only re-invite wickedness, heartache, bitterness, and anger – all things that are far from God.

So in prayer and with the strength that can only come from God Almighty, you lift your battered chin, teary eyes, and sunken chest and do what needed to be done long ago – you step into a different direction into healing.

Your very first step is on the stone of forgiveness; it’s a strong yet heavy stone. The weight of this stone reminds you of God’s hand pressing down on you and how strong your Father is in carrying your burdens! Your second step is stronger and lighter as you sense healing and light beginning to renter your soul. The years of tarnish are being renewed by the Holy Spirit Himself. You see, there is nothing too dirty, too wicked, too dark that God cannot heal and restore.

I encourage you to evaluate the relationships in your life. This passage in Proverbs washed over me today. In full transparency, I too have remained in unhealthy relationships/friendships that were marred by wickedness and ungodliness. These relationships oozed gossip, hypocrisy, envy, and pride. I found my light dimming. In my justification and conscious defense, I would utter to myself, “But these are self-proclaimed believers so they must be good people!” As the Scripture encourages, watch out for those who come in sheep’s clothing but are ferocious wolves.

This passage is encouraging to me, and I pray that you find light in this message as well. We are tasked with loving and praying for even those who persecute us. However, we must avoid entering the path of the wicked and falling prey to evildoers. Avoid doing as the world does and be the salt and light as we are called by our Creator God.

Question: How do you say goodbye?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta