Created for Relationship

As Americans, we are conditioned to have the “I can do it by myself” mentality. We don’t need anyone else to help us. We’ve got this. We are strong and independent.

Although some of those statements are true sometimes, they aren’t true all of the time. Most of us do have it, until we don’t. I have lived that personally through the loss of our son, Carson. Through that experience, I learned the importance of being an active and engaged participant with and in the church. Not only did the church step in and carry us through that difficult time, but they also played the hands and feet of Jesus here on earth to us in our darkest time.

God didn’t design us to carry the weight of this world alone. In fact, in Genesis 1:27, it tells us that God created us in His image, which a lot of us know. However, if we take a closer look at that Scripture from the previous verse, we will see the wording reads as this: “Then God said, ‘Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us…” (Genesis 1:26).  You see God is one being, existing in three equal parts, which we know as the Trinity: The Father, The Son (Jesus), and The Holy Spirit. Therefore, being made in the image of God means that we, too, are created for relationships. I love how Jennie Allen said it in her book Find Your People. She wrote, “[The Trinity] …means that our God has been relational forever. It means that He created us out of relationship for relationship - and not a relationship that is surface level or self-seeking. No, the relationship He has in mind for us is… sacrificial, intimate, moment-by-moment connection” (pp. 23-24). The relationship that He has in mind for us is through His Son, Jesus Christ. But it also means that we should be people of relationship.

In Genesis 2:18, God also made that very clear by saying this: “…It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” This is additional proof that God didn’t design us for total and complete independence, despite what we’ve been conditioned to believe.

If you feel alone, make an effort to get connected. Start by finding a church. If you visit one and it doesn’t feel right, visit another, and another, until you find the right community for you. As long as you're investing yourself in a Bible teaching church, it will not steer you wrong. Within that church, find a community of people to do life with. Join a Bible study, a small group, or a team to serve on. Being part of the church means that we all engage as part of the church to make a deeper impact in our community locally. It is so easy to want to do that online from the couches of our homes with modern day technology. However, showing up each week to a physical building with real people is more fruitful than we will ever understand. If you’ve been hurt by a church or “church” people, remember that all humans get it wrong sometimes. We are all imperfect. Only God is perfect. Don’t let that negative experience or experiences impact your walk with Christ.

Friend, you weren’t created to be alone.

Have a great week!