Made to Belong - 5 Practices to Cultivate Community in a Culture of LonelinessSample

Many of us deal with loneliness and isolation. You are not alone in this. We are all asking the question: Who is my community and where do I belong?

The Bible shows the significance of belonging from the earliest parts of our human story—God designed us to be relational beings, made to belong to God and others. We are created in community—“let us make man in our image” (Genesis 1:26)—and for community—“it is not good that the man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18).

Yet sin brought separation in all forms of relationships. We became self-centered and divisive. While the Bible declares, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1 NIV), we may prefer to belong to someone else (self, the Evil One, the world). By God’s grace, our story does not end there. Through the finished work of Jesus on the cross, reconciliation of all broken relationships—with both God and others—was made possible. And the Bible provides incredible wisdom and hope as we navigate belonging in a fragmented and disconnected world. . . .

There’s a fascinating story in Genesis 16 about Abram, Sarai, and Hagar. Abram and Sarai, as followers of Yahweh, were supposed to be the very community that protected and cared for individuals like Hagar, who was an outsider. But instead of receiving belonging, Hagar was mistreated and abused. Abram and Sarai didn’t even call her by name. Hagar then fled from them, desperately seeking her own way, but the angel of the Lord found her and asked this incredible question: “Where have you come from and where are you going?” (Genesis 16:8).

The entire story of the Bible is about God—a pursuing God, a consistent God, a relentless God. I love that when Hagar wasn’t even looking for God, God was looking for her. This is the entire story of the Bible. God is pursuing people, even when they don’t know it.

God certainly knows where we have come from and where we are going. But He asked Hagar and is ultimately asking us: Where have you come from and where are you going?

Take some time to reflect on your journey of belonging: What’s been your experience with community and key relationships? And what might God be inviting you to consider?

Prayer

Father, I am so grateful that You are always watching over me. Thank You for pursuing me, and please help me find my place in the community You have created for me. Amen.