Paul knew what it was like to need people and not have them show up. When he stood before the Roman authorities at his first defense, no one came to stand by him. All deserted him. He experienced the sting of abandonment. And yet he did not write the church off. He still prayed for those who failed him. He still asked Timothy to come before winter. He still sent greetings from imperfect believers in Rome. He still closed with grace.

Friendship with Christ enables us to keep loving imperfect people and proclaiming the gospel, even in hard places. (2 Timothy 4:16–22)