Sometimes Being a True Friend Means Not Being True to Your Friend
Real friends don’t just support you — they protect you
A Devotional from The Drive Podcast
Opening Story / Insight
As my girls were growing up, there always seemed to be some cartoon playing in our house. Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sofia the First, Tangled, Dora, Puppy Dog Pals… and eventually Bluey, which somehow became one of my favorites too. Some of us never really grow up.
One older show that stuck with me, though, was about a turtle named Franklin and his best friend Snail.
In one episode, Franklin, Snail, and their friends were playing soccer. Near the end of the game, Franklin kicked the ball off Snail’s shell to score the winning goal. They celebrated — but on the walk home, Franklin noticed Snail was in pain.
Snail brushed it off. “Just a cramp.”
But the pain didn’t stop.
Eventually, Snail admitted the truth and made Franklin promise not to tell anyone:
His shell had cracked.
Franklin knew that was serious. He told Snail they needed to tell his parents. Snail refused — afraid he wouldn’t be allowed to play soccer anymore.
That’s when Franklin did the hardest thing a real friend sometimes has to do.
He said, “If you won’t tell them… I will.”
Snail walked away angry.
“Some friend you turned out to be.”
A Friend Who Sees What You Can’t
Later, Franklin learned the truth: cracked shells don’t always heal on their own. Left untreated, they can get worse.
In the end, Snail told his parents. They helped him. Everything turned out okay. And Snail thanked Franklin — not for being nice, but for being brave.
That’s when the real lesson hits:
One of the greatest marks of a true friend is that they don’t always tell you what you want to hear — but they will always tell you what you need to hear.
A true friend loves you as you are…
and leaves you better than they found you.
Blind Spots in Life
When you’re driving, the most dangerous areas aren’t the ones you see clearly — they’re the blind spots.
Life works the same way.
We all have blind spots:
Choices we can’t see clearly
Relationships that are hurting us
Habits that are changing us for the worse
Often, others can see them long before we can.
The problem? It hurts to look there. And we’re often afraid that if someone points them out, we’ll lose the relationship.
I’ve had students ask me many times what to do when they see a friend going down the wrong path — changing because of a relationship, choices, or pressure. The fear was always the same:
“What if I lose them?”
My answer was always simple:
If you truly care about your friend, you’ll tell them what they need to hear — and trust that one day they’ll understand why.
The Greatest Friend of All
The person who has helped me see my blind spots more than anyone else is the Savior.
He said:
“If men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness… for if they humble themselves before me and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong.”
— Ether 12:27
Notice what He promises first — not comfort, not praise — but clarity.
He loves us enough to show us what needs healing…
and then He stays to help us heal it.
Today’s Daily Challenge
Take a moment today and do one of two things:
Thank a “Franklin” in your life — someone who loved you enough to be honest
Or, if needed, be a Franklin for someone you care about, even if it’s uncomfortable
Sometimes, to save a friend, you may be misunderstood for a while.
But real love isn’t afraid of that.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
You can find more daily devotionals here:
👉 https://joshdowns.com/daily-devotionals
And weekly gospel-based lessons for teens here:
👉 https://joshdowns.com/come-follow-me-for-teens
Sometimes the truest friendship doesn’t feel friendly at first — but it saves lives in the end.
