Be that new person who was made to be like God, truly good and pleasing to him. So you must stop telling lies. “You must always speak the truth to each other,” because we all belong to each other in the same body.

Ephesians 4:25 (ERV)

We often believe that speaking the truth hurts. However, not doing it is considerably more painful. Nothing is more precious than speaking the truth in love to one another. It is the foundation of true friendship and a good ground for personal growth and well-being.

Many friendships are formed for the sake of convenience. It is a friendship that does not nurture or support the other person in the way that they need it. If a friendship is worth anything, it is the courage to express the truth in love.

Surround yourself with individuals who will always give you the truth—when it is due to you, not when it is convenient for them to do so. The best kind of friends are those who are willing to risk their friendship with you because they believe in you and will not let you settle for less than you deserve. While they accept your flaws, they will not accept your excuses for not pursuing excellence or pushing yourself to be the healthiest version of yourself.

Speaking the truth in love has deep healing power. It sustains and strengthens people while also actually blessing them with the ability to change.

People are often astounded by the gracious words that emerged from Jesus' mouth because He always spoke the truth in love. Speaking the truth in the context of the gospel is the commitment to pointing people to Jesus. When people see Jesus, they view themselves in a different light. It will cause them to become who they were called to be and become in Christ.