That longing you can’t silence for community–to know and be known–is neither superficial or selfish. It’s the evidence of God’s heart for you. 

Belonging wasn’t your idea first. It was His. Before the first created man had breath in his lungs, God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit existed in perfect community. As Jennie Allen says, “Our God has been relational forever. It means that He created us out of relationship for relationship.” 

And we feel it sharply when we’re out of sync with God’s design. While we’re created for community, many walk around feeling lonely. No matter the number of people in our periphery, aloneness is often internal. Even in a crowd of people, many feel like an outsider.

Perhaps that’s how you feel today. Like few know the actual you. Like you’re the only one without a “best friend.”

Researchers tell us the percentage of people without close friends is rising at a concerning rate. But it’s not a statistic when it’s your own life. Your own ache. 

You might downplay what’s missing by staying busy. Filling your life with God-honoring activity. Trying to grow “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). But still you crave relational depth . . . and there’s a reason why.

 

Links mentioned:

1. To get a short, doable tip in your inbox every week to help you get to know your neighbors, sign up HERE.

2. For my top friendship deepening tips–applicable to both neighbor and non-neighbor friendships–grab the free download HERE.

3. Read the written version of this episode HERE.