Surround Yourself with Godly People in the Middle 

By: Victoria Zangaro

We are better together! We should all be certain that we're not put onto this earth to have to deal with our problems alone. Whatever it is, we don't have to do life alone! We don't have to face anxiety, depression, sickness, or the loss of a loved one by ourselves. It's okay to ask for help—it's actually biblically encouraged (Ecclesiastes 4:9–12). It does not make us weak.; it actually makes us wise, knowing that we need fellow believers to lift us up in prayer. 

We always have the Holy Spirit that is with us in every moment, and yes . . . He is enough! He provides us with strength, perseverance, hope, and help. He gives us peace and joy and purpose. But God also designed us for relationships; He made us to live in community and desires that do life with our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

With my leader, I told her about some problems that I had been facing. I shared how these issues were bringing about unwanted emotions in me. Before, I would have probably just sought refuge and comfort in my phone and just kind of let the problem sit until it went away or I forgot about it for a bit. Did that help my problem? Not at all! However, with my leader, she showed me that I have to be intentional about it, that in those moments where I am at my worst, instead of reaching for my phone i should go to the Lord in prayer and seek God. In order for me not to go through this alone, we both agreed on an emoji that we would use, that I would send her to let her know I was struggling, so that we would both be praying. 

Community, having trusted friends and family members who are part of the family of faith, will enable us to be accountable and intentional about our own problems. Instead of waiting for the problems to just go away (as if they would have an expiration date and just vanish all of a sudden), we can give our problems to God, and ask Him to help us find peace during this time, and lean on those He's placed in our lives. If you don't feel comfortable speaking to the people that are in your life right now about your problems, pray that God will bring you the ideal friend(s) that you need for this moment. 

The middle is not easy, but it is better in community!