Do’s and Don’ts When Your Friend Is Going Through a Hard Time – I’m a Guest on Proverbs 31 Podcast with Host Lysa TerKeurst

I had so much fun being on the Proverbs 31 Ministries’ podcast hosted by one of my good friends, Lysa TerKeurst , along with my friend Candace Salamone. We talked about what to say and what not to say when a friend is navigating a difficult time.

The hard thing we never would have chosen to share is divorce. And while your hard thing or your friend’s hard thing might be different from ours, I know you’ll glean so much from our conversation.

A little background about our friendship—Lysa was one of the first people I met when I moved to Charlotte 24 years ago. I knew no one, met her at church, became friends, and she was the one who encouraged me to write and speak, which I eventually did for Proverbs 31 Ministries. Our friendship strengthened when we were divorced around the same time.

Candace and Lysa were already friends, sharing parallel divorce journeys, and then the three of us became friends. When I separated from my husband in March of 2022, I desperately needed friends who understood the divorce journey. Along with having the support of many loyal and kind friends, God provided these two.

Along with supporting one another through the grief of divorce, the three of us have a lot of fun! (check out my Instagram and you’ll see lots of our adventures. We’ve laughed, traveled, decorated, ordered Doordash, and played lots of Monopoly Deal (and this is a short card game, fyi, not a long game like the original Monopoly game).

Here’s the link to the podcast: “Friendship Do’s and Don’ts” With Lysa TerKeurst and her BFFs (proverbs31.org)

And if you want to watch, here’s the youtube link:

If you want a little guide to tuck in your journal or Bible about helping your friend during a hard time, you can print out this free guide: What to Say, What Not to Say, and What to Pray, found on my website.

Speaking of friendship, I hope you are gathering with loved ones for this Thanksgiving.

And, like me, if this is one of your first post-divorce Thanksgivings or maybe you’re dealing with another type of loss, I hope you find a new way to make this holiday season happy!

I am so thankful for each of you, my friends.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Melanie