Squad Goalsનમૂનો

Walking into a lunchroom and not knowing where to sit is one of those universal middle school moments. Your tray feels heavier than it should, your heart is racing, and you’re scanning the room, hoping—praying—to see a familiar face. But here’s the thing: it’s not just middle school lunchrooms.

Walking into a church for the first time can feel the same way. So can starting a new job, moving to a new town, or even stepping into a new season of life. In every stage, we’re looking for our people—our squad.

We’re wired for connection. We long to belong, to be seen, to be known. But finding those connections can be hard, intimidating even. And when life changes—and it always does—holding onto those connections becomes even harder. People move. Priorities shift. Friendships that once felt easy start to feel out of place.

It’s tempting to let this be the end of the story, to assume that belonging is always just out of reach. But I think there’s something deeper at work here. I think our longing for connection—our search for a squad—is rooted in something sacred.

The friendships in your life aren’t accidental. The people who cross your path—even the ones who are there for just a season—are part of something bigger. I believe God weaves our relationships together with purpose. The New Testament paints this picture beautifully in Acts 2: “And all who believed were together and had all things in common. They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.”

This wasn’t just a group of people hanging out because they liked the same music or went to the same school. This was a community intentionally shaped by God, a community that saw what they had—not just their stuff, but their time, their talents, their very lives—as tools to serve one another.

It’s a beautiful, messy, holy thing to be part of a community like that. But here’s the challenge: communities like this don’t just happen. They take work. They take intentionality. They take a willingness to show up, even when it’s awkward, even when it’s hard.

Here’s the thing about finding your people—it doesn’t happen passively. It’s tempting to sit back and wait for the right friends to find you, to hope that one day you’ll walk into the perfect church or job or small group where everything just clicks. But the truth is, friendship—real, meaningful, life-giving friendship—requires something from us.

Proverbs reminds us, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” This kind of love isn’t about convenience. It’s about commitment. It’s about showing up for each other, not just in the good times, but in the hard ones.

So the first squad goal I have for you is this: give more than you receive.

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated in a friendship, chances are it had something to do with unmet expectations. Maybe they didn’t call when you thought they should. Maybe they didn’t show up the way you hoped. Maybe the friendship felt one-sided, and you were doing all the work.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the best friendships aren’t built on keeping score. They’re built on helping the other person win.

Romans 12:10 says, “Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Can you imagine what your friendships would look like if this verse was your goal? What if you made it your mission to honor the people in your life—not because they’ve earned it, but because they’re worth it?

This is what it looks like to reflect God’s love in your relationships. To step into a lunchroom—or a church, or a job—and decide to be the one who goes first. The one who takes the risk. The one who gives more than they take.

So here’s my challenge for you: take inventory of your squad. Think about the people in your life right now—the ones God has placed in your path. What’s one way you can show honor to them this week?

Maybe it’s reaching out to someone who feels lonely. Maybe it’s offering your time or resources to help someone in need. Maybe it’s simply choosing to see your friendships as sacred, intentional, and worth investing in.

Because here’s the truth: you don’t find your people by accident. You find them when you choose to love with purpose. And when you do, you’ll discover that God’s design for community is more beautiful—and more life-giving—than anything you could create on your own.