True Friends: When Loyalty Is Tested

There are moments in life when the mask comes off, and sometimes, it’s worn by someone you thought you knew. That happened to me just yesterday. A friend I believed was in my corner, someone I thought was loyal and trustworthy, showed his true colors. And in that moment, I had to confront a hard truth: not everyone who walks with you is really for you.

Friendship is a gift from God, but it’s also a mirror. It reflects character, loyalty, and trust. And sadly, sometimes it reflects betrayal, selfishness, or disloyalty. It hurts. It cuts deeper than most wounds, because it’s not the strike of an enemy, it’s the surprise of a friend.

David, the man after God’s own heart, knew that pain all too well. In Psalm 55:12–14, he cries out:

“For it is not an enemy who reproaches me,
Then I could bear it;
Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me,
Then I could hide myself from him.
But it is you, a man my equal,
My companion and my confidant;
We who had sweet counsel together,
Walked in the house of God among the commotion.” (LSB)

There’s something sacred about walking through life with a true friend. When that bond is broken, it rattles your spirit.

What Does the Bible Say About True Friendship?
The Bible is clear: true friendship is built on love, loyalty, honesty, and sacrifice.

Proverbs 17:17 says,
“ friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.” (LSB)

Not just in the good times. Not just when it’s easy. At all times. A real friend doesn’t bail when things get tough—they stand closer, speak truth in love, and stay loyal even when it costs them something.

Proverbs 18:24 reminds us:
“A man of many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (LSB)

Quantity isn’t the same as quality. You can be surrounded by people and still feel alone. But one loyal friend, one person who’s got your back no matter what—that’s rare and that’s real.

Even Jesus, the perfect Son of God, chose to live in close friendship. He called His disciples “friends” (John 15:15), walked with them, taught them, poured into them—but He also experienced betrayal at the hands of one of them.

He knows the sting.

He knows what it’s like to be abandoned, denied, and let down by people who once claimed loyalty.

So if you’ve been wounded by someone you called a friend, you’re not alone, and you’re not forgotten. God sees it. He can use it. He may even be protecting you.

How Do You Respond When a Friend Turns Fake?
Don’t let bitterness take root.
Forgive, even if they don’t ask for it. That doesn’t mean you forget or keep the same level of trust, but forgiveness keeps your heart from hardening.

Let God sift your circle.
Sometimes betrayal is God’s way of refining your relationships. When someone walks away, it reveals who was meant to stay.

Be the kind of friend you wish they were.
Don’t let someone else’s failure make you cynical. Keep being loyal. Keep being honest. Keep being real.

Lean into Jesus, the truest Friend.
He never changes. He never lies. He never leaves.

At the end of the day, this hurt reminded me of what kind of friend I want to be—and what kind of people I want around me. I’d rather walk with one or two real ones than run with a crowd of counterfeit connections.

To those who’ve been betrayed, don’t let that moment define you. Let it refine you.

And remember: when a “friend” shows their true colors, believe them. Then, thank God for the clarity.

You may have lost a fake friend, but you’ve gained a clearer path to finding the real ones.

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” – Proverbs 27:6 (LSB)

Real friends will tell you the hard truth. Fake ones will flatter you while plotting your downfall. Choose wisely. And when you're in doubt, ask God to guide you. He knows who belongs in your life—and who needs to leave.

If this resonated with you, share it with someone who needs to be reminded: you’re not alone, and you deserve real friendship.

In Love,

Pastor Jody