Create Community

While solitude is a beautiful thing that can build our intimacy with God, we must take care not to slip into isolation. Isolation can make us susceptible to depression. We need to realize that we need people. No matter how well you can do by yourself, there are moments in your life when you can’t do it alone. We have to create a balance and know when to ask for help from the right people.

God created us as relational beings and for fellowship. We all need a place where we feel a sense of belonging. Psalm 68:6 says: “God places the lonely in families.” The family is not necessarily biological or marital. We are all members of God’s universal family. It is a privilege to be interconnected with other Christians who can help us grow in our personal and spiritual lives within a safe environment. We should desire to become part of the community that God has created for us.

Finding the right community is essential. Identify a safe environment where you are accepted for who you are and where you can grow. Be selective of the company you keep. Surround yourself with people who see your value as a child of God, who recognize your unique gifts, and who genuinely love you for who you are. Here are some practical ways to find community:

• Join a social group or professional association.
• Join a prayer group or Bible study.
• Volunteer to serve the disadvantaged in your community.
• Set aside time to spend regularly with your own family.
• Ask someone you admire to mentor you or offer to mentor someone else.

To thrive in singleness, we need quality relationships. To become all we’re made for, we need to connect with other people and with what God has placed in them.

Reflect

Are you doing any of the things suggested above to build community? Prayerfully ask God to show you if there is one step you can take this week to expand your community.