by Elizabeth Haarberg

Finding strength in God’s people.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

God has blessed me with a community. Not only does this include friends, but people who serve deep and different purposes in my life.

I have one friend who has taught me about God’s love. Once God encountered me, I haven’t doubted His abilities, but it was the love of Christ that needed some work in my life. My friend’s gentle way of handling me, and modeling what real love looks like, has created an environment for God to work.

Another friend is profound, but the funny thing is she has no idea how deep she is. She has given me words of encouragement that seemed to come straight from the lips of Jesus. My favorite is, “You know the saying ‘you can’t see the forest for the trees’, right now I want you to focus on the one tree. See each tree you’ve help plant and nurture. Look how big the tree is because you cared for it.” Wow!

One of the friends that started out as a mentor, and helped me a lot in the beginning of my journey, is now more of a mother. When my mother left earth almost 11 years ago, I didn’t realize the void she left until I met this woman. She truly is a mother to me.

These are just a few of the people that God has planted for a season in my life.

A couple of years ago, I was doubting that God had my best interest at heart, and whether I could trust Him. My faith was stretching, and growing, but it felt like it might break me. The community that God placed around me rallied, and held me up when I thought I might give up. This, I believe, is the value of true community.

Growing in faith can really test us. If we stay in this race long enough there will be hard times with no time limit. Look up Moses’ story for reference on endurance.

When Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs, I don’t think it was for bodily protection. It was probably to keep each other accountable, build each other up, and call each other out if correction was necessary.

“Now after this the Lord chose and appointed seventy others and sent them out ahead of Him, two by two, into every town and place where He Himself was about to come.” John 10:1

If you’ve been burned by church, and are using that excuse to not be in community with other believers, start praying that God sends at least one person you can connect with on a deep level. Start looking for that person. It takes some effort on our part.

I had been praying for a mentor when I met one of the women I mentioned above. Within a month God showed me she was the one who I had been praying for.

Be patient, but diligent. God will always come through!

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado