I remember it as clear as day. "You can have a personal relationship with Jesus; He wants to be your friend!" I was in sixth grade, and it was our day-long class NET Retreat. I sat with my legs crossed in a circle on the floor of the Saint Joe's church basement next to the other girls in my class.

I looked at our small group leader wide-eyed, my heart paused for a moment. "I can be friends with Jesus?!" I thought to myself.

I'd grown up in a faithful Catholic family. Church every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. Daily Family Rosaries. Private Catholic School. I "knew" a lot about my Catholic faith—but I didn't yet know Jesus. That day on retreat made one thing really clear for me: knowing about someone is vastly different than actually knowing someone.

"You can have a personal relationship with Jesus; He wants to be your friend!" This sentence changed the trajectory of my faith life. In a way, it was the Holy Spirit tapping me on the shoulder (or the heart, really) to remind me that Jesus desired friendship with me. He wanted me to know Him just as He already knew me, and knows me still!

Jesus wants to be the One you turn to in joy and in trouble. The One you lean on in seasons of hardship and the One you rejoice with in seasons of celebration. "In this world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world" (John 16:33). May the reality that you have an unwavering companion in Jesus be your peace today.

Let's pray today, sister. Come, Holy Spirit. Continue to help me see that Jesus truly wants to be near to me!

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[bctt tweet="He wants to be your friend! // Shalini Blubaugh" username="blessedisshe__"]

Jesus my Brother, thank You for Your unwavering love.