I can’t well explain the value of this type of relationship has had in my life.  I have a precious friend that the Lord brought into my life 4 years ago.  I was in a season of life where in many areas; I was encountering difficult life situations.  I began to ask the Lord to point me toward someone that I could bounce things off of, call and share crazy irrational struggles with, someone that would laugh with me and pray with me.  He brought this precious, godly woman to mind.  I knew her, but certainly wouldn’t say we were in close relationship.  After really praying it through, I called her and meet with her to ask if she would be interested in investing in me.  That was a pretty vulnerable thing to do and believe me I wouldn’t have done it unless I was convinced it was the Lord.  She accepted and we have such a blessed last several years.  We have cried together and laughed together.  About 2 years after she and I began to build this relationship, my mother suddenly and very unexpectedly went home to be with Jesus.  My sweet friend was literally life to me and to some degree filled some of the gaping holes that were created by my mother’s absence.  
God is so very faithful.