The Power of Community

Embracing Authentic Connections and Support in Our Daily Lives

Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash

Devotion:

I know I often talk about community (probably somewhat ad-nausea), but that's because it's crucial to our lives and well-being.

Community is more than just a word we throw around—it's the heart of who we are and what we do.

Growing up, I was deeply influenced by the people around me—those who shared their time, wisdom, and support. Today, as I look at the church and society, I notice a lack of young people engaging with traditional communities. As a millennial, I see how my generation and younger ones crave authentic connections with those who genuinely care for and value us. However, it is not necessarily sought or experienced in traditional ways (“the way it’s always been done”).

Community is simple yet profound. It has given me some of the greatest gifts in my life, despite also bringing challenges and disappointments. True community grows through commitment, healing, and presence, even amid difficulties.

Over the course of my life, I've experienced various communities—youth groups, sports teams, seminary friends, and social groups. Each has shown me that community goes beyond gathering; it’s about forming relationships that offer care and grace in times of need.

Building a community is natural but requires effort. We get out of it what we put in. We are called to a higher purpose, guided by God's Word, which welcomes, comforts, loves, and works. This divine work bears the fruits of God's perfect love.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14:

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in the one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many."

We are one body, and like a body, we care for each part. When one part is in need, the whole body responds. Our community is like that—we support and uplift each other, recognizing that we can't journey alone. We build this sense of community by being there for each other, wherever our paths may lead.

Let's continue to lift and carry one another in God's name, knowing that our journey together is enriched by the connections we share.

Reflect:

Use these questions to reflect in your own personal way. Feel free to write your answers in a journal (or use the notes app on your phone like I do), and you can even leave some comments below about things on your heart.

1. How has being part of a community positively impacted your life, and in what ways have you contributed to the growth and support of your community?

2. Reflect on a time when you felt supported by your community during a challenging period. How did that experience shape your understanding of community and your role within it?