Reminded of Community

I’ve been stuck on this blog for like 3 weeks now. I’m pretty sure it’s because I was overthinking it which is so silly. Most of my previous blogs weren’t strategically planned out or anything. I literally would start typing and the Lord would give me the words to say. I’m not sure why I thought this one was any different.

I’m gonna be honest, about 3 or 4 weeks ago I had a pretty tough week. It was a tough week mentally and emotionally. The enemy was attacking me and I found myself falling into his trap. He almost talked me into shutting everyone out and dealing with my thoughts alone… which is how I use to deal with things. I know that’s unhealthy and not the right way to go about things.. now. I did come close to going back to my old ways though… but then the Lord brought me back to reality.

The Lord didn’t give me amazing people to walk through life with for no reason. He provides us with people to talk to and live in community with. In any community there has to be communication. Communication is one of the key factors that holds any community together. So why did I think shutting everyone out and dealing with my negative thoughts and emotions alone was a good thing?

In a book I’m reading they talked about how the enemies first way of attacking us is with discouragement. Discouragement is so easy for people to fall into and if the enemy can drag us in for just a second, it’s a victory to him. He knows that it could lead to more discouragement later on and could eventually make us believe lies about ourselves and the people around us. Like for myself I believed that if I brought my struggles to a friend to talk about them, I’d some how be annoying to them. That’s so not true though. Any discouraging thought you may have about yourself is not from the Lord. Rebuke those thoughts and remind yourself of the truth the Lord gives us. Remind yourself of your true identity and who the Lord says you are. 

The community the Lord provides for each of us, loves us and wants to be apart of our lives. That is something I learned during my tough week. I did end up reaching out to my community and talking to a couple of friends. During one of those conversations I found out that my friend was actually going through similar things. That opened up room for encouragement and vulnerability for both of us.

On December 18th I “started” this blog in the notes of my phone. I didn’t want to edit that note into this blog because I knew that would make me over think. Overthinking things leads me into moments of trying to prove the control I think I have in life and pushing God aside. This doesn’t give God the room to speak to me or through me. So… I decided I’d just leave that note below, at the end of this blog instead.

“God puts people in our lives, not to push away but to be in community with. We weren’t made to walk through life alone. We were made to live in community with our brothers and sisters around us… including people in the process of our lives. It can be difficult because it requires a certain amount of vulnerability and trust. But man… once you open that first door and let people into your life, you’ll realize how worth it, it is. It’s so exciting too, because you’ll always end with something positive. Whether that be a feeling of relief because you shared your life with someone or you get encouragement, support, advice in return. You might also discover that the person you are sharing with has a similar struggle… and then you have a friend to learn and walk through life with. You can hold each other accountable and encourage each other.” 

– Brianne