No Man is an Island
Who would you call in a crisis? Do you have people you could call and know they would drop everything in an instant if you needed them? Thankfully, we can always call upon God, and He will always be by our side. In fact, there are countless scriptures to remind us that God is with us.
“[. . .] and I am with you always, until the
end of the age.” - Matthew 28:20
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever [. . .]” - John 14:16
“For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand [. . .]” - Isaiah 41:13
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you [. . . ]” - Deuteronomy 31:8
This is comforting of course, but we also need God’s people to turn to as well.
I once had a scary situation happen at work. While it was occurring, all I could pray was ‘Jesus’ over and over. Afterward, I was immediately comforted by my sweet co-workers. I also called my now husband sobbing. He was so calm as I walked him through everything. He made sure I felt safe and was okay. He even offered to drive the hour trip to my work to check on me. I knew this was a person I wanted in my corner.
I have countless examples of someone in my family or church family giving me a helping hand in one way or another - they have prayed for and with me, encouraged me, and supported me throughout my life. Unfortunately, church attendance is on the decline. Less than half of all American adults attend some type of spiritual service regularly. We can all speculate about reasons why this is happening, but I fear people have bought into thinking that they do not need community.
The band Tenth Avenue North released a song called “No Man is an Island” in 2014. Part of the chorus sings, “No man is an island, [. . .] we’re not meant to live this life alone.” How right those songwriters are.
God designed us for relationships. We were created to live in a community. When God created man He said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. (Genesis 2:18)”
This is not a “surface-level” or “cookie-cutter” community, where others only see the life you portray, like on social media perhaps. To have true community, you must have deep, meaningful conversations and experiences. The best type of friends are those who you can trust, support you, hold you accountable, and check up on you. You also need to be this type of friend.
The Bible also has some things to say about the importance of community. Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them.”
Jesus himself was always surrounded and supported by his community of friends and followers.
Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.” Galatians 6:2 also acknowledges the need for others by saying, “By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ.”
“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Think about the friendship between David and Jonathan. They made a covenant, or agreement, that bound them together as friends who would support each other (1 Samuel 18:1-5). They loved each other fiercely, and even after Jonathan’s death, David made sure his son was well cared for.
So, when the baby won’t sleep and you have cried all night, who can you call? When you were just let go from your dream job, who can you call? When you get the call about a loved one in critical condition, who can you call?
Who will you call in a crisis?
If you cannot answer that question, it’s time to get out there! Find godly people and be open to being vulnerable, and begin living in the community. Ask God for direction if you are lost on where to turn. If you are able to answer this question, praise God! Thank him for the wonderful people in your life and then tell them you are thankful for them, too.