A few weeks ago at youth group, our youth pastor (not my dad) gave a great message on community. And I wanted to share some of it with you.
She asked me and my dad to come up onto the stage. She gave us a rope, and we each took an end. She told the audience that I was a person, I was them, and my dad represented all the difficulties life can throw at us.
We played tug-of-war and I’m sure you can guess who won – my dad.
But then she asked my whole huddle to come up. And guess who won that round? My huddle and I.
The tug of war was such a great visual of that it’s not easy to handle life and all the hard things it can throw at us alone. But together, with a few close friends, it is so, so much easier.
So today, lets talk about that.
How many of you can think of a few good friends that you KNOW will be with you through the ups and downs in life? Now, I’m not talking parents and other adults, although those can be good mentors and great people to have in life to help you. I’m talking kids/teens around your age – people you go to school with, hang out with, or play sports with.
Maybe, for some of you, that’s easy. But for others of you, not so much.
I know from experience that it’s not easy being homeschooled and having friends. When I was little, the only friend I hung out with was my cousin – and, yes, we are still best friends to this day, but it might’ve been nice to have a few more friends to hang out with.
But since then, I’ve joined a basketball team, softball team, been going to youth group, and have been seeing people a whole lot more often than before. Which, being an extrovert, has been really fun.
It’s so important to have a community, close friends that will be there for you. You never know when you may need them.
Yes, I have a couple good friends that will be there for me – including my siblings and Jesus – but I’m always looking for more.
Look around you. There’s probably kids at your school that you pass by in the halls everyday that are looking for a good community. You never know; they could be your new best friend.
Reach out to others. You can build a great community, a great friend group, of Christ-loving people if you would only talk to them.
I’m no professional (spoiler alert) but I do know that you shouldn’t just have friends to say you have friends. Make sure you choose the right ones (people that love God, kind to others, etc.).
Proverbs 18:24 – One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
See that? But there IS a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Maybe you’ve found that friend already, maybe you haven’t. Maybe you’re looking for more.
Opportunities to build more relationships are all around you. Text that friend today. Talk to them next game. Chat at church. Maybe they’re waiting for you to ask.
Make sure you build a group of friends that God would be proud of.
Daily Challenge: If you’re still looking for a few really good friends, or are trying to make more, I encourage you to reach out to others – whether it’s through text or in person. And remember, you never know: They may be waiting for you to ask.
Comment: Are you still looking for a Jesus-loving group of friends? Or do you have one already? How can you reach out to others, and is there anyone in mind?
I think I have found my Jesus loving group of friends and it’s one of the biggest blessing in my life !
A passage that the Lord gave me many years ago is an Ecclesiastes 5:9-12, “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one shall lift up his fellow:. But woe to him who is alone when he falls. For he has not another to help him up.”. Add verse 12, “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. “. Those verses shows how important community is, whether it is a one-on-one relationship or within a group. They can support and lift each other up. The three full chord also signifies Christ finding them together.