“How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” – Psalm 133

I have quickly learned that perhaps the most crucial aspect of christian faith and the most crucial aspect of young adulthood are one in the same.

Comm[unity]. Community, to me, is one of the biggest blessings. Having others around you to push you, guide you, and support you has such an impact on the way that you view your surroundings and your daily situations. Coming to college and having to start back at square one with relationships can be quite a daunting task. Some stress about it and let the task dominate their decisions, sometimes prompting them to lose the characteristics and qualities that were once true to themselves. Others are fearful of putting themselves out there and constantly convince themselves that “tomorrow” they will attempt to make friends. Yet still others seem to make so many friends that they in a sense are spread so thin that they lack any deep, meaningful relationships. As humans, I think we crave intimate relationships. When I use the word ‘intimate’ I am referring to someone who we can be completely transparent with, pray with, share in both our joys and our struggles with, and someone who seems to see right through any facade that we so desperately attempt to put up. Being alone can be a fresh of breath air at times, and even for extended periods of time, but in the end, I think it is not only beneficial but desired to have someone to share life with [perhaps as Christians, that is what makes our intimate relationship with God so endearing].

When you surround yourself with a good community, you get a glimpse of God. You see their love poured out on you, you are inspired by their faith [which pushes your own faith], and you know that you always have people to lean on. If these earthly relationships can be such a blessing, just imagine how much greater and glorious our relationship with God must be. John 1:12 says ” But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” The relationship between a child and a father is in its very essence, intimate. Matt Chandler, preacher at The Village, mentioned this idea in a recent sermon. He referenced a situation in which people state that they long to be angels, because ‘how great would it be to be in the presence of God all of the time?’ Chandler stated that while on the surface this seems great, the book of Hebrews seems to paint a different picture. Hebrews 1: 5 reads “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’? Or again, ‘I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son’?” Our relationship with God is much different than that of angels. 1 John 3:1 says “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” Chandler goes as far as to say that the relationship is so different that angels long to be in our position. They are servants. We are sons and daughters. We are children of God.

Now I am not ignorant to the fact that the idea of God as ‘father’ may not be comforting to all and may even build more of a barrier in one’s heart. I believe that your general first impression/idea of God is greatly derived from your relationship with your earthly father. This can be a blessing or it can be a hindrance of faith. There are many fathers that are loving, supportive, and are a great example of what being a ‘father’ entails. There are also fathers who are distant, neglectful, abusive, and who create an environment of animosity, mistrust, or disdain towards any fatherly figure [God]. If your father was one of those or even anywhere in between, he still had his flaws and he was not perfect, making it impossible to fully comprehend what having a truly good and perfect father even entails. No matter what experience we have with a father figure, we can find peace in the fact that The Lord is truly good, truly just, and truly loving in the purest form. Even with the knowledge, the hardest step, whether it is because of a lack of trust or another reason, is giving Him full control. This is not a quick process that happens overnight, but instead it is a long process in which you form a deeper and more intimate relationship as you learn to be truly loved and learn to truly trust.

Finally, this process is not one that has to be done alone [hence the need for community]. The inspiration of faith from others, the community of prayer, and the reliance on others are blessings of community. Be intentional about the community that you surround yourself with, while also being aware of the type of community that you are being to others.