Have you ever noticed that despite societal changes that often celebrate individualism, there seems to be constant efforts to create new apps for connection or community? Myspace, Xanga, Twitter, Facebook, X, Instagram, Reddit, etc. The list goes on, but the point is that people are constantly looking for means of connection. Although we sometimes try to pretend that living an individualistic life is good, deep down, don't you think that something is missing? We weren't created for isolation. In fact, research shows how quickly isolation impacts our well-being, and yet, people continue to pursue fulfillment of the deep desire for community with what amounts to fleeting satisfaction at best.  

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What if we were looking in all the wrong places for the life we were designed for? What if we’ve been trying to fix the God-sized hole in our hearts with the wrong remedy? This might explain why even people who know Jesus can experience that feeling of something missing when it comes to relationships. I'll be the first to say that I never fully realized what I was missing and how much I needed community until I joined a group.

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Now, don’t get me wrong, I'm not saying that you shouldn't ever use social media, or that you shouldn’t practice solitude with God. We cannot neglect our personal and intimate relationship with him. Rather than dealing in absolutes, lets pay close attention to how we are meant to live and the theme of community that is constant throughout the Old and New Testaments. In fact, we so often read about God addressing “His people," not by accident but because he is intentionally speaking to his people – which includes us - about the way we were intended to live.

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In today’s passage, God gives a promise to be with his people! He is giving us, his people, a call to be his. That is you and I – not only you or I individually. The difference is a collective, not just the individual.

Ultimately, what we need is to do life with Jesus and with people. Trying to fill what only Jesus can with people will leave you empty, frustrated, and disappointed in expectations that people can never fulfill. A life without people (closeness in community of other believers) is apart from how God intends for us to live.

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Now you might be thinking “But people are messy, broken, or imperfect." Yes, WE are. All of us… but thank you, Lord, for your love, grace, and mercy. I'm not dismissing the challenges that we sometimes face in closeness with others, but what if those were opportunities to walk with our brothers and sisters as we encourage each other? I promise you, it's worth it. Take action today to step into or continue in what God has for you in community.

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Which challenge is for you today?

• Take a moment to pray and take a next step into community today!

• Pray with a friend and invite them into community alongside you by joining an ACF Group.

• Find out what it could look like for you to become a group leader by connecting with Kristin Smoot, our ACF Groups Coordinator, at kristin@acfak.org.