A Prayer to Be a Friend Who Sticks Closer Than a Brother
By: Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).
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My friend recently lost her baby. I had met with her the week before, and I grew concerned when she seemed to be struggling just to get around the store. While I understand that women in their third trimester often feel tired, I could tell something wasn’t right.
The following Sunday, my friend and her husband went to the doctor and discovered that their baby no longer had a heartbeat. After a few days, labor was induced, and their precious child was stillborn. I woke up to the heartbreaking text: “Baby is with Jesus.”
While I have never experienced what my friend went through, I do understand grief. Witnessing the death of a loved one is something I wish no one ever had to endure. My heart ached for my friend as I knew she and her husband were just beginning the long journey of sorrow.
In our group chat, everyone began asking what they could do to help. While those questions came from a loving place, I knew from experience that nothing can truly take away the pain of a grieving heart.
Even though we could not remove the deep ache of loss, we did what we could. We organized a meal train, sent gift cards, picked up groceries, and covered them in prayer. We asked the Lord to bring comfort and peace that only He can provide.
The wise writer of Proverbs tells us, “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24). It matters deeply who we choose as friends. Some people can lead us down roads of sin, pain, and separation from God. But when we choose friends who love the Lord wholeheartedly, we find the kind of friend who sticks closer than a brother.
These are the friends who show up during the hardest seasons: in the aftermath of losing a job, the end of a relationship, or the death of a child. And just as importantly, we are called to become that kind of friend ourselves.
Are we being a friend who sticks closer than a brother or sister? Would we truly drop everything to help someone in their time of need? Or are we more focused on our own lives?
Becoming a friend who sticks closer than a sibling takes time and intention. We cannot be fair-weather friends who remain only when life is easy. Instead, we must stay through the storms, the pain, and the uncertainties of life.
When we commit to loving others this way, it changes us. It teaches us to place others’ needs above our own. It pushes us to grow less self-centered. It equips us to serve in God’s Kingdom with humility and compassion.
Today, consider how you can be a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Go to the Lord in prayer. Ask Him to reveal any ways you may have fallen short in the past. Invite Him to shape your heart according to His Word. Continue walking in obedience to Scripture and leaning on God for strength.
He will help you grow into the faithful, steadfast friend He calls you to be.
Let's Pray:
Dear Lord, help me to be a friend who sticks closer than a brother. I want to be a good friend who shows Your love, kindness, and compassion in my daily actions. When my friends walk through difficult seasons, help me to be a steady source of support. Teach me when to be a quiet shoulder to cry on and when to gently offer wisdom. Give me discernment in every situation.
If I fall short of being the friend You’ve called me to be, lovingly correct me. Redirect my heart and continue shaping me into someone who honors You in my relationships. Thank You, Lord, for correcting me and discipling me in the way I should go. Amen.
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Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Sarah Mason
Related Resource: What If God’s Heart Toward You Is Kinder Than You Think?
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Originally published Friday, 10 April 2026.
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