The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Frenemy (02/13/25)
Mara and Elise had been friends since college—two bright, ambitious women who had laughed, cried, and dreamed together. They shared late-night study sessions, celebrated each other's victories, and consoled one another through heartbreaks. From the outside, their friendship looked unshakable, but something more complex brewed beneath the surface.

At first, Mara ignored the subtle digs Elise would make about her work. "You're so lucky you don't have to try as hard as the rest of us," Elise would say with a smile, making it sound like a compliment. Mara felt the sting but brushed it off. After all, friends teased each other, right?

Then came the competition. It was always friendly—at least, that's how it appeared. When Mara got promoted at her firm, Elise quickly celebrated but said, "Well, it makes sense; you've always been better at playing office politics." When Elise got engaged, Mara was genuinely happy for her, yet Elise found a way to make Mara feel inadequate, throwing in comments about how "some people just attract love more easily."

Mara started to recognize a pattern—Elise was her greatest supporter and sharpest critic. Their friendship had become a battlefield where encouragement and subtle sabotage coexisted. She realized Elise only seemed to cheer for her if she wasn't too far ahead.

One evening, over dinner, Mara confronted Elise. "Do you even like me?" she asked, surprising herself with the directness of the question.

Elise hesitated, then laughed. "Of course I do. You're like a sister to me. But let's be real—we push each other, don't we? A little competition keeps things interesting."
Mara nodded slowly, understanding at last. Elise wasn't a true enemy but wasn't entirely a friend. She was a frenemy—someone who blurred the lines between companionship and rivalry, lifting Mara up with one hand while pulling her down with the other.

As she reflected, a verse from Proverbs 27:17 came to mind: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." True friendship should build, not break. Mara prayed for wisdom, remembering Proverbs 13:20, "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." With that, she stepped forward, ready to embrace relationships that reflected God's love and truth.

That night, Mara made a decision. She would no longer let herself be defined by this complicated relationship. She valued friendship, but she also valued peace. It was time to surround herself with people who celebrated her without reservation.

As she walked away from dinner, she felt lighter. Some friendships, she realized, are best loved from a distance.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 306 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Arrah Atem-Tambe
02/20/25
I love how you take us on the journey of Mara and Elise’s relationship and build on the red flags that made it complicated. And I’m happy that Mara came to the right conclusion and did the right thing!
Laurie Kiel 
02/21/25
Great use of the topic. These two characters gave a great lesson to us in our friendships.
Noel Mitaxa 
02/21/25
Excellent and sensitive picture of the subtlety that works its way through relationships. Matt 10:16 comes to mind - being innocent as doves and wise as serpents - as your MC embraces this pointer.
JK Stenger
02/26/25
Well done and an important lesson. I feel your article could have been stronger if you would have done a little less telling. You start the article by telling us the backstory of these two friends. Even if you only have 750 or so words, I would encourage you to weave these details in more subtly.
Having said that, I enjoyed your article much and I think you did a great job.
C D Swanson 
02/27/25
Well done, great message and an excellent segue to the final conclusion and moral - and by the way - so true!

Congrats!

God Bless~