A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24

Life is never going to be easy. Relationships will never be perfect. People who claim to be close friends often prove the opposite. Reaching out and opening up definitely presents the opportunity to be burned. (Incidentally, the phrase, “may come to ruin,” can mean, “be crushed”.) But is there reward without risk?

I find comfort in one relationship:

“By definition, the greatest friend that ever lived is Jesus Christ. For Jesus Christ is more intimate with us than any relationship, closer than a brother, and never does He leave. Jesus will speak to us the truth, though it cut us to the core, for He knows that when the surgery is done we’ll be better for it; and Jesus gave His life for us. That’s the truest friend there could be.”

(from “Jesus, the Friend of Sinners,” John 8:3-11, John MacArthur)