Jesus, May You Feel Like a Friend

He's not just history. He's here.

Photo by Jonny Gios on Unsplash

People talk about the things they love. It’s natural, isn't it? That new café with the perfect latte, the book that reshaped your thinking, or the gut-laugh moments from the latest show everyone’s binging. These things bring us joy, and we want to share that feeling with others.

I was on a text thread recently, and a friend mentioned one of my favorite authors. My immediate, unedited thought, which I quickly typed out, was, "Man, I’d run through a wall for that guy."

The enthusiasm was genuine. But then, a question entered my heart.

Do I talk about Jesus like that?

It's a challenging thought. If you're like me, maybe there's a hesitation. We might share an article about faith, or mention church in a conversation, but that deep, personal excitement about Jesus Himself, or what the Spirit is actively doing on an ordinary day? That can feel… different. It’s harder to articulate. Perhaps we’re afraid of sounding strange, or overly pious, or we’re just not sure how our Jesus-speak will land in a world that often relegates faith to the private sphere.

Or maybe, if we're truly honest, Jesus sometimes feels more like a revered historical figure than a present part of our daily story.

We talk about the things we love because we genuinely want others to experience the same joy or breakthrough. And if we believe Jesus is the source of ultimate joy and life-altering truth, then that desire for others to know Him should burn even brighter. But maybe to get us over the hump of authentically sharing Him, we need to cultivate something deeper within ourselves.

I think it starts with Jesus becoming real to us.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that some of us Christians don’t “really” believe in Jesus and the gospel hope. This isn't about questioning the sincerity of our intellectual beliefs. There’s a profound difference between believing Jesus is real and experiencing Jesus as real, present, and active in the fabric of our lives. It’s about moving from Jesus as a concept we affirm to Jesus as a companion we walk with, a friend whose presence shapes us.

So, how do we make this transition to truly seeing Jesus as a friend? While I'm still learning so much on this journey myself, for me, it begins with spending time with Him in two distinct ways:

1. Spending significant time in the Gospels.

It’s easy for the Gospels to feel like a sacred historical account, a recounting of profound events from a bygone era. We can appreciate the miracles, the teachings, the sacrifice, yet still feel a chronological distance. As I reflected after Easter, the historical bedrock of our faith is vital, but it’s the foundation, not the entire house. What we do with the information of the Gospel is just as important.

Why?

Because Jesus isn't confined to the pages of history or the past tense. He’s the living Word, present by His Spirit, eager to intersect with our current reality. He wants to make Himself known not just as a figure we study, but as a relationship we experience.

In 2022, I began reading the Gospels over and over and over again. Whenever I cracked open my Bible, that was all I wanted to read. I think the reason why was that I found a lot of comfort and hope in sitting at the feet of Jesus and watching his life unfold. Watching him heal the sick. Absorbing the words from his teaching. Being a part of the heartfelt conversations and the opening of eyes, both physically and spiritually. Even today, it takes a lot for me to spend significant time outside of the Gospels, because of how they’ve helped me feel Jesus in my life.

2. Spending time with Jesus in prayer.

Prayer, of course, is a vital part of this journey toward experiencing Jesus as a real and present friend. When I pray for people, a frequent petition of mine is that Jesus would become so real to them in ways they can tangibly experience. I pray that way because, if I'm honest, I’m after the very same thing for myself.

And this kind of prayerful encounter moves beyond simply talking to Jesus. It involves listening to Him, making intentional space to simply be with Him. It's easy to get caught up in the reading and study about Jesus – all good things – and yet forget that we have an open invitation to actually spend time with the person of Jesus, whenever we choose.

I think the shift happens when prayer becomes less of a monologue or a list of requests, and more of a dialogue – a genuine spending of time with Jesus. This means carving out moments not just to present our needs, but to quiet ourselves and listen.

Listening isn't always about audible words. It might be recognizing the Spirit’s gentle nudge during a hectic workday, or experiencing an unexpected sense of peace when chaos is swirling. It could be gaining a fresh perspective on a problem after a deliberate pause, or even seeing the hand of Jesus in the timely kindness of a colleague.

This is about practicing His presence, as Brother Lawrence so beautifully modeled, remembering that Jesus is with us in the kitchen of our daily lives, not just in designated holy moments. It’s the difference between studying a potential friend and actually enjoying their friendship.

As much as I desire to live in that constant, easy sense of His friendship, I’m very much a work in progress. Remembering He’s with me in the “kitchen” is one thing; translating that awareness into how I live and speak is a daily, intentional practice. Lately, part of that practice for me has been a growing desire—echoing that thought I shared at the beginning of this article—to simply talk about Jesus more freely and naturally. I want to find those unforced moments in any conversation to mention what He’s teaching me or how His presence is shaping my perspective, much like I’d share insights from any other deeply valued friendship. It's a learning curve, and I don't always get it right, but the intention to not compartmentalize the most important relationship in my life is becoming stronger.

I penned the prayer below, which has become a personal way for me to actively invite His nearness into my everyday. I wanted to share it, with the hope that it might encourage you.

Lord, I thank you for your friendship. Walk with me, in the cool of every day, like we’re in the Garden. Forgive me for the times I’ve sensed I needed to be in Your presence, yet chose to flee from it, opting for distraction or my own solutions. May I remember that you are the most real thing in existence because it was through you that existence was created.

And Jesus, I know You are a friend to me – yesterday, today, and forever. But I ask that You would feel like one, too. Not just for me, but also for everyone around me. Amen.