Life is hard and everyone goes through difficult times. You struggle and don’t have anyone to turn to to encourage you that life is going to be OK. Some have friends or family and then there are some who have the ultimate blessing of having a top-notch church family. Being a member of a church since I was a child, I’ve grown up with these people. I know their past, their families and I have babysat their children. We’ve become friends and have become comfortable enough to text on the weekends.

They are there to pick you up when you fall, encourage you and tell you how it really is.

When you have an especially difficult test coming up or someone in your family is sick and you have an entire group of people praying over you, the sense of comfort is astounding. Your church family is designed to remind you that you have been perfectly designed and that God is in control. If you fail that test, they are the people you will turn to, again, for comfort. There have been many times that I have sent a text saying that I was having a rough time and multiple church members were clearing their schedules to make time for me to talk over coffee at the downtown retro coffee shop. They know, even if you haven’t said anything, just by the look on your face or the drop of your shoulders, that something is amiss, and simply come up and give you a hug. This little hug can turn your entire day around because it was meaningful, purposeful and had the intention to make you feel better. They encourage you to be the best you can be, and push you to be who God wants you to be. Acting up isn’t an option, because you always have someone watching you and being there to keep you in line. Of course, if you are acting up and not being who they think you can be you get a big notification and a big flashing sign. Even though that may be annoying in the moment, you should be thankful that you have people looking out for you and your best interests.

They will truly become your family.

Growing up with these people you bond with them. People of all ages become one entire family and stay that way even when some move away. Just like a family there are inside jokes that outsiders wouldn’t understand. You have nicknames, some that are very weird and made up after you do something embarrassing. The youth group is like one blob that walks together throughout the church, you have a certain place you sit to eat anytime there is food after Sunday morning church, and you even skip business meetings to all go play mini golf together. You were raised together, most since you were very young, and welcome newcomers to become one with the mob engrossed of bed-headed zombies and inner school rivals. When I was a junior in my youth group we had eight different schools within our youth group. Talk about playful trash talk come Friday game days. No matter the trash talk, you all love each other and would all pile into one minivan to check on one member who hadn’t been to church in a few weeks because they were sick.

You always have someone to go get coffee or hang out with.

Going to a church where you are bonded with everyone, you usually have a circle of older women who are invested in your life. Random text messages flood in, telling you that you were on their mind and that they are praying for you. They will call to see if you would like to get coffee. Then you have those special woman who know you are having a hard time and will drive all the way to your college town to take you to dinner. These are relationships that should never be undervalued, and ones that you will never lose.

Being a member of a church means you gain an enormous amount of second parents and siblings of every age. Building relationships with people who will help shape your life and be there to catch you when you feel as if you’ve hit rock bottom is a precious experience. You will make friends that last a lifetime and they will always comfort you with open, loving arms. I have never met anyone who understands me quite like those in my church. It’s a wonderful feeling I’m not willing to shake.