The Gift of Showing Up

Acts 2:42, 47(NIV):  “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” 

I sat in the car, wiping my tears and checking my makeup in the mirror. I fought the urge to back out and leave, but finally rallied, got out, and walked through the doors. It was no small feat to make that walk inside, with every step feeling like a mile. But God was with me, giving me the courage when my heart felt so heavy. I felt the love immediately as I locked eyes with a friend, who greeted me with a warm smile and a caring hug. It was heartwarming to experience genuine joy and excitement from someone I had only known for a short time. Since joining our new church about three years ago, my husband and I have formed special relationships with many other couples and individuals through our small group. 

That weekend, however, my husband was out of town, and I was weighed down by anxiety over ongoing struggles with a family member. I wasn’t sure I could walk in alone, or even that I wanted to. But I am so thankful I did. Sitting with friends, I was able to worship and lean into the message, all because of the step of faith we took three years earlier. 

Like so many of us, the pandemic left me feeling isolated. I deeply missed in-person church

services filled with live worship music and surrounded by a community of friends. During that time, we began watching online services from a church we had visited a few times when visiting our daughter in Southern California. The pastor, who had baptized my husband and me nearly 25 years earlier, was someone we had always loved learning from. Imagine our joy when we realized that this same church was launching a campus in our city! We attended informational sessions, eagerly awaiting the launch plan and the announcement of the campus pastor. Coincidentally, the pastor chosen was someone I had known and worked with at a previous church, and even carpooled our kids together. Needless to say, we were ready to dive in and support this new church plant. 

When the time came, we signed up to lead a small group in our home, welcoming wonderful people. Together, we shared a meal, studied Scripture, and prayed for and with one another. I have always been a strong believer in a small group community. In Acts 2:42, we read that the early church “...devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” That’s exactly what we were doing. 

Even science affirms what Scripture makes clear: belonging is essential to our well-being. After nearly six decades of life, I can attest that my struggles with anxiety and depression intensify when I am isolated. But when I step out of my own head (and bed) and into community, whether with family or friends, my heart and mind find peace, and experience more joy. God did not design us to live in isolation. He calls us into fellowship with others, into communities where we can encourage and be encouraged. 

Jesus modeled this perfectly. As he walked the Earth, he surrounded himself with his disciples - men and women he trusted and invited into his inner circle. He showed us what true friendship and belonging look like: a community where love is shared, faith is strengthened, and everyone has a place at the table. 

No matter if you are battling loneliness (and we all do at times in our lives)  or just fearful of walking into a new place, don’t let it keep you in the car. Take that step. Walk in and find your seat. Community is where healing can begin and where Jesus meets us with open and loving arms.