Every one of us has had times in our lives where life was happening to us. Those periods were nothing seems to be working right— career is failing, strife in family and spiritually, you seem dry. You can’t seem to pray or study the word; God’s best structure for you right then is community and kingdom friendships.

For the past few days, we have spoken on alignment in relationships: we can’t call everyone a close friend because those we hold close influence our beliefs, values and worldview. A number of relationships can redirect our lives for the better, others may be a distraction. We also spoke on the importance of Submission to Spiritual leadership, they serve as a protection, guidance and a form of accountability. Today, we are discussing the role of Kingdom relationships in our walk with God.

Kingdom connections serve as your spiritual anchor when life threatens to pull you off course. They are God’s safety net designed to catch you when you’re falling and redirect you when you’re drifting. When the storms of life are raging and your faith feels shaken, it’s these relationships that will remind you of God’s faithfulness, speak truth over your confusion, and pull you back to solid ground. They are the ones who will call you when you stop showing up, challenge you when you start compromising, and pray for you when you can’t find the words.

The people God joins you to are not accidents or coincidences. They are carefully selected and strategically positioned for your journey. But if you’re looking for relationships that only serve your immediate needs or stroke your ego, you’ll miss the very connections that could transform your destiny.

John 15:16
New King James Version
16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

Jesus made it clear to His disciples that their connection to Him wasn’t based on their choice or their qualifications. He chose them – fishermen, tax collectors, and ordinary men who didn’t fit the religious elite’s expectations. Yet these unlikely connections became the foundation of the early church and changed the course of history. The gospel reached us because of this relationship.

Kingdom connections demand three things that many people are unwilling to give: commitment, humility, and vision. You must be committed enough to stick with the relationship through seasons of stretching and challenge. You must be humble enough to receive from people who may not look like what you expected. And you must discern God’s purpose in the relationship, even when it’s not immediately obvious.

Look at Ruth’s connection to Naomi:
Ruth 1:16-17 
New King James Version
16 But Ruth said: ‘Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.

17 Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.’

In Ruth and Naomi’s story, we witness an extraordinary bond that survived devastating loss. Their circumstances were far from typical. Naomi was Ruth’s mother-in-law, and cultural expectations would have supported Ruth’s return to her own people. Yet Ruth chose to stay, holding fast to their relationship, and through that connection, both their destinies were transformed. Her commitment to this unlikely connection positioned her to become part of the lineage of Jesus Christ.

Consider David and Jonathan’s friendship. Jonathan was the king’s son who should have inherited the throne, yet he recognized God’s anointing on David and chose to support him instead of competing with him.
1 Samuel 18:1-4 
New King James Version
1 Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David,

2 and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Saul took him that day, and would not let him go home to his father’s house anymore.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.

Who would have thought Jonathan, the Son of Saul would refer to David, Saul’s greatest enemy as his own soul. This is a great example of unexpected lifelong kingdom relationship. One that changed both of their lives.
We see through the life and journey of David in Saul’s house that his relationship with Jonathan saved his life and preserved him for all God wanted to do with his life later.
And we see the repercussion of relationships in the generation of Jonathan, Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:3). David, after the death of Jonathan, looked for an offspring to bless because of his love and friendship with Jonathan. So, God preserved both their lineages because of a relationship.

Have you overlooked or undervalued people God has joined you to because they didn’t come in the form you expected? Maybe it’s the person who challenges your thinking, the one who doesn’t fit your social circle, or the mentor who seems too demanding. Perhaps it’s the spiritual son or daughter who requires more investment than you anticipated, or the ministry partner whose methods differ from yours.

Kingdom relationships are not always comfortable, but they’re always purposeful. They might stretch you, challenge your pride, or require you to grow in ways you hadn’t planned. The question is: are you committed enough to stay connected even when the relationship requires sacrifice? Do you have the vision to see God’s hand in connections that others might dismiss?

From today, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to who He has assigned to your journey. Stop looking for connections that only serve your immediate comfort and start recognizing the divine assignments that will serve your eternal purpose. Stay committed and prayerful even when the connection stretches or challenges you, because God’s greatest gifts often come in the most unexpected packages.

The enemy understands the power of isolation, which is why he works so hard to disconnect you from the relationships God has assigned to your life. When life is “lifing” – when bills are overwhelming, relationships are strained, dreams seem delayed, and your faith feels fragile, these kingdom friendships and relationships become your lifeline.
Don’t underestimate the people God has strategically placed around you – they might be the very ones He uses to keep your faith alive, keeping you grounded when everything else is falling apart.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Prayer Point
Holy Spirit, open my eyes to discern the divine connections You have assigned to my life. Help me to value and commit to relationships that carry kingdom purpose, even when they challenge or stretch me.