The Antidote to Feeling Alone in Faith
Following Jesus is simple, but it isn’t easy.
It’s simple because it’s not about earning or proving or working your way into favor with the Father. But it’s not easy—the surrender and submission are part of a counter-cultural Christian life that many won’t understand. There are certain seasons in life when this can feel isolating, even to a faithful believer.
Like when you’re staying home from church for weeks on end with your newborn baby. Working in a place where you’re the only Christian. Spending time with family members who just don’t understand why you live your life for Christ.
Have you ever felt like following Jesus is lonely?
Yes – Sometimes faith feels isolating.
One of the enemy’s most popular lies is to tell you that you’re alone. But you aren’t! In fact, all throughout the Bible, God reminds His people that their faith is best exercised in community, not in isolation. If God reminds His people that their faith is better with community, we have to make a point to surround ourselves with fellow believers who build us up.
The writer of Hebrews encourages us to persevere through the not-so-easy aspects of faith. How? By “[spurring] one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
God knows your faith journey will be full of mountains and valleys. If you’re going to make it through with perseverance, you’ll need the body of Christ along the way.
But how do I find Christian community like this?
The local church is God’s remedy to a lonely faith. By engaging in your own local church, participating in a women’s ministry, or even inviting a Christian friend over for coffe, we follow the encouragement of Hebrews as we “spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24).
Praying for Christians around the world is a great way to engage with the body of Christ, too! At Mission India, we want to see India changed by the love of Christ, and your prayers are a part of making that possible. We believe the Gospel has the power to change lives, but we also know that following Jesus isn’t easy. That’s why our mission is to equip India’s Christians to plant reproducing churches. By establishing Christian communities in India, we can saturate neighborhoods and villages with the Gospel of Jesus Christ—giving support to those who would otherwise feel isolated.
Both in your life and in the lives of believers in India, Christian community is vital to a vibrant relationship with Jesus. YOU are that community for India’s Christians through your prayers, and through time spent with fellow believers in your life, you’ll be surrounded by the encouragement you need to stay strong in faith, too.
PRAY
- Pray for Christians in India who are planting churches in neighborhoods that have never had a local body of believers. Ask God to protect them and bless their efforts.
- Ask the Lord to give you a community of faith that will spur you on toward love and good deeds.
TAKE ACTION
- Donate toward Church Planter Training so you can develop a Christian community for people who don’t have access to one! Click here to give a gift.
- Get coffee with a friend who follows Jesus and ask what God has been teaching her lately. There’s a good chance it will encourage and inspire you both!
