For many years, I have felt on the outside looking in… maybe you too can relate.
There have been seasons where I was missing having close sisters. That feeling where you long for family beyond the blessings you already have, Where my heart felt lonely despite a loving hubby, great kids, friends & family.
Heart sisters.
And I remember one day praying to Him, and ripping this longing from my heart & offering it to Him.
We were never meant to walk alone.
We are designed for community.
Community for me means walking alongside those who share your passion & calling, who will give you a hand up on the hard days, and encourage you to unfurl the dreams yet to fly deep within.
We were meant to live life in community, just as our Father, Jesus and Holy Spirit do!
There are three elements of community which God has been revealing to me of late.
1. Come.
If you don’t show up, it isn’t community. Community gathers regardless of feelings, because it knows we are better together than on our own. Where we answer the invitation God offers to us all, to come and be. Be fully present, as you are.
2. Commune.
Also known as family. Living real lives together. Accepting us each as works in progress, on a journey towards wholeness:
- Encouraging one another as we need it
- Reminding one another to draw closer to Him and our loved ones
- Giving our best at all times
- Using our gifts for His glory
- Praying over & for each other when needs arise
- Being helping hands when we can meet another’s need
- Crying together, sharing our brokenness
- Offering one another a safe place to rest and be refreshed when we are weary
- Forgiving one another when we fall short.
3. Unity.
When we gather with common purpose, somehow our unity makes us stronger, and greater than when we stand alone. I believe this is the secret to how God is which we gloss over in its complexity: God is three, yet one. Each fully their own person, yet united as One. In community, we become the one He intended us to be.
Will community always be amazing? Nope. There will be hard times when our individuality rears its voice and cries out for attention, when we allow our unhealed places & pain to speak first.
Is community worth it? Always. There will be blessings you cannot yet imagine when we press in and dig deep together.
For me, community involves sisterhood. I have been so blessed with several heart sisters to live daily life with. I don’t want to imagine life without them. They bless me more than they know.
As I have followed His leading, He has blessed me with new friendships, an expanded sense of family ,and reawakened a few dreams through growing deeper in the communities He is planting me in.
God can unite us beyond our expectations when we follow His lead.
Come, commune with Him & become one. This is the core of community, connected & grounded to God first.
Ask Him to draw you closer to the community He has for you here on earth.
Your best ‘you’ comes to life in the community where He waits to make it possible.
I will be continuing the conversation about community this week. Look forward to hearing your thoughts!
KARLA LEES 