Some of my close friends have recently told me that they have lost their faith in God. They recognize they once had faith, but circumstances have changed. How do I be supportive of them (understand where they are coming from) but clearly state my views (tell them what I believe without offending them or pushing them away)?
As the old saying goes, you can’t lift someone up if you’re below them. In spiritual matters we always have to take care of ourselves first, so you should be sure you’re doing everything in your power to improve your own spirituality first. If you’re doing that, the Spirit will generally tell you when to bear testimony to those around you and when to stand as a silent example. It’s important that, while you accept others for who they are, you not allow them to infringe on your right to exercise your beliefs.
For example, when our family gets together at my parents’ house for dinner, we always say a blessing on the food, even though not all of us attend church, because it’s their home and that’s how they do it. But at the same time, they don’t ask someone to pray if they’re not religious. Above all, it’s important to show our family and friends that we love them unconditionally, even when their actions are contrary to our beliefs.
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