The People God Places Around Us

The People God Places Around Us

My daughter was struggling with some Algebra work that she needed to do, and though I’m not good at math, I tried to help her out. When that didn’t work, I went to my husband (he’s good at math), and he tried to help her.

But you know when you haven’t done something in a while, trying to jump into it blind can be hard.

Well, next we grabbed our oldest son. He’s a senior, so he sat down and said, “Okay, let me show you how to figure this out.”

I was really taken aback by the fact that this was community in action.

I’m going to be honest with you:

I’m not the best example of leaning on my community when it comes to needing something. I usually try to do it alone, but I have gotten better about including my husband, so that’s some progress.

I do know that if I needed anything, there are people I could call on. When my dad passed away, I got to experience that kind of community. It was comforting to know that those God has placed in my life are exactly who I need.

But that’s where we can get stuck. We think that we only really need community when something is wrong.

But what about when things go right? Are we reaching out to our community to share the good things?

Throughout the Bible, we see the importance of people gathering together, helping one another, encouraging one another, and walking alongside one another.

Community matters.

Let’s jump back to my daughter, who needed help with her schoolwork.

I know many times she has just guessed because she didn’t know the answer and didn't want to ask for help, but because she was willing to ask for help this time, she became encouraged. I could see it all over her face. She was feeling defeated about this math work, but by the end of it, she was feeling a little more confident.

That’s what community does.

I have heard many different stories about people struggling with certain things, but then a community came alongside them and helped. Sometimes, those in that community were people they didn’t even know.

Isn’t that amazing?

When people see a need, they help. When people see something that needs to be celebrated, they celebrate.

Think about it. When you go to a restaurant and it’s somebody’s birthday, they invite the whole restaurant to join in the celebration.

Why?

Because the more the merrier! And we find ourselves smiling and enjoying the moment for that person—someone we’ve never even met.

We are people who need community.

Community supports, helps, and guides.

As I am writing this, I am thinking about what happens when we gather together as a church to worship the Lord. We can worship by ourselves, and it can be amazing, but something hits differently when like-minded people come together and worship.

There’s a sense of unity because we are all looking at and focusing on one thing, and that is the LORD.

I’ve had some intimate moments of worship by myself with the Lord, but in some instances, I know I needed to just be surrounded by God’s people to change the posture of my heart and mind.

Why is that?

Because we may not even realize it, but as we stand together as a church community worshiping the Lord, we are sharpening one another.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”

Worshiping together—in song, in prayer, or in the Word—unites believers.

I can say that sometimes I notice someone struggling as we are doing these things, and I stand there and pray for them. They don’t know me, and they for sure don’t know that I’m praying for them. But in that moment, I see them, and I know they need someone “standing” with them.

And that’s what I’m doing.

Having a close community is so great because you have people you can call on and trust. But knowing that you can go to a common gathering place where others are worshiping the LORD and be there with them, even if you don’t know anyone, is also community.

Don’t underestimate what God can do, no matter who you are surrounded by.

I was at a youth conference when I was in high school, and I had friends there, but they weren’t walking through what I was walking through. So, in the middle of worship, I went out into the lobby area and was just there by myself.

Someone who I didn’t know very well noticed I was gone and came to find me.

She sat there and prayed with me.

God can and will use anyone He chooses, and so often, what they say or do is exactly what you need in that moment.

So, be open to those who sincerely come to you wanting to help.

But also, be open when the LORD nudges you to be that person for someone else.

Galatians 6:2 says, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”

Sometimes community looks like the people closest to us stepping in when we need help. Sometimes it looks like an entire church worshiping together. And sometimes it looks like one person noticing that someone is missing and going to find them.

We were never meant to walk through life alone.

Sometimes God provides what we need through the people He places around us—and sometimes we are the person He places around someone else.