Temporary:lasting for only a limited period of time; not permanent.

We know these types of people all too well. They come into our lives, linger for a while, and then are never to be heard of again. At least that's what temporary people would be like in a perfect world. In reality, it seem as if the people we want to be the most permanent in our lives are the ones that flee the fastest, leaving a trail of destruction as they go.

I used to take fading friendships personally. I was unable to understand what it was about me that made it SO easy to leave. I prayed for an answer, asking God to stop putting people in my life that were just going to leave me. He then answered quite clearly by making me more aware of the actual people leaving, not just their actions. It was the people that hurt me the most, the friendships (for lack of a better word) that were not beneficial. Losing friends continued to weigh heavy on my heart until I turned to scripture and excerpts from sermons, reading, etc. for guidance.

"You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious."- Joel Osteen

"We met for a reason, either you're a blessing or a lesson." - Frank Ocean

"We accept the love we think we deserve."- Perks of Being a Wallflower

"Jesus replied, 'You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'" - John 13:7

And most recently a verse from Isaiah 66 that was translated to, "I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born, says the Lord."

I could go on forever with a list of verses that helped get me through tough times, all reminders to remain strong in times of difficulty and anxiety. All of those verses lead me to the same conclusion though, God has a plan much greater for us that is not always clear, but is always in action. This is a broad conclusion, I know, but when you think about it in relation to people, it makes much more sense.

We learn things from everyone we encounter, no matter the length of time they are with us. A lot of the people I've crossed paths with have helped me grow while others have shown me how much I've grown. This past year I lost and gained a lot friends, both I am thankful for because it reminded me to set the bar high on the love I thought I deserved.

This past semester a friend that I was quite close to for about three years, without reason, chose to remove himself from my life in one of the most hurtful and humiliating ways I could have imagined. It kept me up at night, wondering what it was that I had done wrong. I was sick with guilt and felt powerless. I made a promise that I would forgive him whether he asked for it or not because we should always forgive. While that promise still remains the same, a few things have changed. Though I may forgive him, it does not necessarily mean I should allow him to have such a hold on my life. No worldly person should have that much power over your happiness, especially if they are so undeserving of it. For this reason it was easy to let that friendship fade. I thanked God for him and his temporariness, because having him in my life was good while it lasted and when it wasn't anymore, he simply faded away. I learned and grew so much because of this. He taught me that I deserved a friend that would love me as unconditionally as I had once loved him.

Don't forget to remember that even though friendships may be temporary, His love is eternal and everlasting. You are never alone if you have faith.