Until my cancer battle, I only noticed the first part of Proverbs 17:17:

"A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity." Proverbs 17:17

I’d often focused on the idea that “friends love at all times,” studying 1 Corinthians 13 to learn what it means to be a loving friend and how to recognize one. But the second half of the verse, the part about a brother—or sister—being born for adversity, remained a mystery to me. Once cancer entered my life, this verse became a living word. God’s Word always holds treasures and blessings, waiting for us to discover them in the most challenging seasons.

True Friends

I’m particular about what qualifies as a friend. I define “loves at all times” using the 1 Corinthians 13 standard:

"Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 WEB

It’s a tall order, and very few people meet this standard. Yet, when adversity strikes, God has a way of moving someone into your life for just that moment of need—a sister or brother who shows up at exactly the right time.

Friends to Sisters

Before my diagnosis, I had a circle of acquaintances—people I knew from church, business, or the entertainment industry. But in the midst of my storm, something transformative happened: many of these periphery friends came alongside me and became my sisters. That’s when the second half of Proverbs 17:17 came alive for me—these friends were born for adversity.

"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

All Things for the Good

Romans 8:28 is often quoted in our darkest moments. It’s a truth that becomes clearer after the trials pass. Many of the women who became my sisters had experienced cancer in their families. Out of their own pain, God brought goodness into my life. Some of them remain my friends to this day. As my health returned, many of these friends returned to the periphery, underscoring the hidden blessings God reserves for our most difficult times.