The Beauty of Community

We’re better together.

I’ve found that the most beautiful seasons of my life were the ones where I’ve been surrounded by like-minded people, striving after a common goal. Even my best days running this race of life alone do not compare to the most challenging of days alongside other people.

But can I be honest?

The idea of real community, where we are seen, deeply known and accountable, I stayed far from – though my heart deeply longed for it. I was the definition of a loner by choice. And, might I say, those years I walked alone were some one the most dreadful years of my life.

Truth is, I was afraid. Afraid of being seen. Afraid of being known. Afraid to let my walls down and trust; allowing my flaws, insecurities, and failures be exposed to the light. I was silently drowning. Now, on the other side of that coin, I have to admit that I was also extremely prideful. I wasn’t willing to accept the fact that I needed help, because needing help felt like a weakness.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

It wasn’t until the depression, anxiety, and loneliness became too much to bear that I cried out earnestly to the Lord Jesus with many tears, asking for an intervention – a change. In process of time He answered that prayer, by leading me to a community of believers that would radically change my life for the good.

We weren’t made to walk this road alone. God designed us to be in community for a reason. We need each other.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

“Two are better than one. Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls. For he has no one to help him up.”

James 5:16

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

Acts 2:44-47

“All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

In our journey of faith, many people will come and go, but God will always be faithful to provide us the love, help and encouragement that we need, when we need it, to keep going.

As followers of Christ, it is our ambition to walk as Christ walked. And my Friend, not even Jesus walked alone.

We need other people when the going gets tough. And other people need us. Don’t allow fear, shame, pride, past rejections or hurts keep you from the beautiful masterpiece that God designed for us – community.

Hebrews 10:23-25

²³ “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

P.S. If you aren’t a part of a local church, I strongly encourage you to join yourself to a Bible-based body of believers. Remember, community is God’s idea. We need other believers in our lives to lean on, to hold us accountable, to love and pray for one another as we walk out Christ’s mission together.