Devotion by Pastor Alexander L Redd
July 25, 2026
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” — Proverbs 17:17
Hard seasons have a way of clearing the room of life. Lose a job, face an illness, or walk through a painful crisis, and suddenly you begin to see relationships more clearly.
Some people love your success but cannot sit with your suffering. They celebrate you when you are strong, yet disappear when you become weak. However, do not allow their absence to make your heart bitter. Let the trial make you wiser, not colder.
Thank God for those who remain. Treasure the friend who calls, the family member who prays, and the person who quietly stands beside you when there is nothing to gain.
Hardship does not create genuine love. It reveals it.
Above all, remember that human beings may leave, but Christ will not. When your life is shaken, and the crowd grows smaller, Jesus remains faithful. His presence is steady, His love is pure, and His promise is sure: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Your hardship may reveal who truly loves you, but it will also reveal how deeply God has always loved you.