The Power Of Community

As I sit in a group therapy and look around me, I realize how blessed I am that I have this community of individuals that listen, understand, and connect with one another. It is a safe place to retreat to when the week has been hard, unmanageable, or discouraging, or even joyful, uplifting, and promising. This is a place where individuals come together to share, to encourage, and fellowship with one another. It is a place where tears are shed, words are spoken, hugs are rampant, and judging doesn’t exist. It is 90 minutes of healing, giving and receiving support, and where gratitude is abundant. Scripture says we are better together than alone (Romans 12:4-5) and so community exists.

Community is God’s desire for us. God didn’t intend for us to live in isolation. His design and purpose for us was to thrive in and form relationships with others. To experience life with others, the good days and the bad days, helps us to be better people for ourselves and for others. Some people think going along in life is easier led in solitude, but that is far from the truth. Being in a community is important for our overall inner peace, happiness and growth. Having relationships allows others to pray for you, to care for you, to share with you, and to serve alongside of you.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24–25 NIV

My journey in group has taught me to trust and embrace others, to have faith in others, to listen intently and learn from others, and to love others from all walks of life. It doesn’t matter where you are from, what you have, or what you don’t have, or what your life was like before or even what it is like now. We all want the same thing. We all want community. God wants us to live life with others.

Jesus said, Love each other as I have loved you - John 15:12-13 NIV. We are asked to love one another in a way that mimics that of Jesus Christ. We are imperfect beings; we need to build each other up. The most important commandment Jesus gave us is to love God and love others (Matthew 22:34-40). Healthy relationships are important, and God commanded that we treat others well. God encourages us to take care of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Maintaining the connection with each other and focusing on building a community of love in word and actions is God’s ask of us.

As I listen week after week to what my fellow group members want to walk away with, there is one thing that continues to stand out. Community. Why is it so important to us? Because it is important to God. God loves people and he knows that people need people. For that matter, the gospel and all of Scripture, reinforces the truth that we were created for community.

~MRD