27/08/2026
To anyone who needs to hear this today,
I hope you find someone who stays when life becomes difficult.
Someone who doesn't disappear when you no longer have the energy to smile.
Someone who doesn't make you explain your pain before they decide whether you deserve compassion.
Because there are seasons when life becomes so heavy that you don't need another person telling you what you did wrong.
You already know your mistakes.
You already know where you failed.
You don't need another voice adding weight to what you're already carrying.
Sometimes, you simply need someone who will sit beside you and say,
“𝗜'𝗺 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.”
That's what makes the story of Job's friends so painful.
They came to him in his suffering.
They saw his devastation.
They saw the man who had lost almost everything.
But instead of simply sitting with him in his grief, they tried to explain it.
They questioned his suffering.
They assumed there had to be a reason.
They offered answers when Job needed compassion.
𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻.
And maybe you've experienced something like that.
You've opened your heart to someone, only to have your vulnerability turned into a lecture.
You've shared your struggle, only to be judged.
You've admitted that you're tired, only to be told that someone else has it worse.
You've stumbled, and instead of someone helping you back up, someone reminded you how foolish you were for falling.
Sometimes the people around us don't know how to carry our pain with us.
And that's why I pray you find your 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀.
Barnabas was known as an encourager.
He was the kind of person who could see beyond someone's past and recognize what God could still do with their life.
When others were hesitant about Saul because of his history, Barnabas stepped forward.
He stood with him.
He believed in him.
He helped create space for him to become who God was calling him to be.
That's the kind of friend I hope you find.
Someone who doesn't show up to question your pain,
but to walk with you through it.
Someone who doesn't judge your tears,
but gives you room to cry.
Someone who doesn't use your weakness against you,
but protects your vulnerability.
Someone who doesn't simply tell you what you did wrong,
but reminds you that one failure does not have to become your identity.
We all need that person.
The friend who celebrates your victories without envy.
The friend who corrects you without humiliating you.
The friend who checks on you when you've gone quiet.
The friend who remembers you in prayer.
The friend who stays when there is nothing exciting left to celebrate.
The friend who doesn't only love the version of you that is succeeding, but love you while you're becoming.
And maybe you're reading this thinking,
“I wish I had someone like that."
I hope you do.
I truly hope God places a Barnabas in your life.
But there's another prayer I hope you consider.
“𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱, 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀.”
Because somewhere around you, someone may be carrying a battle you know nothing about.
Someone may be smiling while quietly falling apart.
Someone may be losing confidence after one disappointment after another.
Someone may be wondering if they are still worth believing in.
Someone may have heard enough criticism.
Maybe what they need isn't another Job's friend.
Maybe they need you.
So if you haven't found your Barnabas,
𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
Because sometimes the greatest ministry you can offer someone isn't a sermon.
It's a message.
A phone call.
A prayer.
A listening ear.
A seat beside them.
A hand on their shoulder.
A simple,
“You don't have to go through this alone.”
You may never know how much that moment meant to them.
You may never know how close they were to giving up.
You may never know that your words became the reason they tried one more time.
Sometimes, God answers someone's prayer for a Barnabas
by sending you.
So yes,
𝗜 𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗼𝗯'𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀.
But if you haven't found one yet,
𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲.
Become the friend you once needed.
Become someone's safe place.
Become someone's encouragement.
Become someone's reminder that God hasn't forgotten them.
𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀.
Because somewhere, someone may be praying.
And perhaps God is looking at you.
