God can help you fix a broken friendship. Here are 2 approaches.

During high school my two best friends and I ate lunch together, talked on the phone every evening, and shared quirky inside jokes. Yep, best friends until senior year. The summer before senior year, they met boys.

College boys.

While the two couples had fun fun fun, I felt forgotten, hurt, and lonely. I don’t think my friends meant to hurt me. Still, they picked him and him and I was dust in the wind.

Has a friend hurt you? How do you fix your friendship? Should you?

With God’s power you can mend a broken friendship by one of two ways. (In one case, you shouldn’t. . .unless God tells you to fix it.)

1. If the wound is not deep — or you feel compelled — cover an offense with love. 

I was able to do this with my two high school friends. They didn’t mean to hurt me, and I had other friends to hang with. But I still missed them and the way it used to be.

1 Peter 4:8 reads, “Love covers a multitude of sins.”

So when you can and as the Holy Spirit empowers you, let the hurt go. Let love cover the offense. Letting go can lead to restoration.

2. Here is the other practical step the mending a friendship and it is tough: Confront with love.

Years ago, serving as a women’s ministry director , my team and I made a decision to switch the day of our morning Bible study for several good reasons. At least we thought they were good.

However, one women was angry with our decision and phoned each women in the bible study, complaining about the day change and me. I felt hurt and angry.

Eventually, she and I talked privately. We confronted one another in love. I apologized that the change took her by surprise, that I should have communicated better with everyone. She apologized for gossiping.

Our friendship was never the same. We became careful around each other, fearing more hurt. It was as mended as could be.

Solomon said, “Better is open rebuke than hidden love,” and

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” Proverbs 27:5,6.

The one time you probably shouldn’t fix a broken friendship:

Let’s say the offense was huge, bigger than the Grand Canyon, and you no longer trusted her. An obvious example: She bedded your husband. A less obvious example: She tells lies about you and you confront her, but she does not repent and continues her behavior.

I pray that God helps you fix your friendship. Life is hard enough. You need the support of friendships.

When is the last time you fixed a friendship?