Community: This is Often Where I Find God
As an introvert, this topic can feel especially weighty for me, one I’ve been tempted to avoid or sweep under the rug.
But it’s not just an introvert thing. Even extroverts can fall into the trap of either glossing over the importance of community or undervaluing it. How important is it, really? Can it be a place, where I find God? Does it matter if we find a sense of belonging? For a long time, I carried the label of “introvert,” and I thought that meant community wasn’t a priority for me. But through years of study and reflection, especially through Bible studies, I’ve come to realize something: while I may need a bit more downtime and fewer interactions, community is still essential. I still need connection. I still need to be seen. Community isn’t just nice to have; it’s necessary for my well-being.
The truth is, no matter where we fall on the introvert-extrovert spectrum, community plays a crucial role in our mental and physical health.
How we engage with it might differ, some of us might prefer smaller circles, while others thrive in larger groups, but we all need it. A Canadian study that was part of a national health survey backs this up. The study showed that people who reported a weaker sense of community belonging were more likely to report poorer overall and mental health. Those who felt disconnected were much more likely to rate their health negatively.
This study reinforces what we’ve seen in psychological and health research: the need for community is central to our well-being. Theorists like Maslow and Bowlby have long argued that belonging is a fundamental human need, second only to our basic physiological and safety needs. In fact, the concept of “social capital”, the idea that strong social ties lead to better health continues to gain traction. Research shows that things like neighborhood cohesion and a strong sense of community can actually reduce the risks of major health issues, like stroke and cardiovascular events.
When we feel connected to our communities, we engage more meaningfully, we problem-solve better, and we combat feelings of isolation. In short, our sense of belonging is not just a luxury, it’s a crucial ingredient for a healthier life. We need people when we’re hurting, and we need people to help us grow. Have you ever been stuck on something, a tough thought or problem all day, but once you start talking it out with someone, the solution becomes clearer or you realize it wasn’t as big of a problem as you thought? Just the act of sharing something with another person can bring clarity.
This, in itself, is a powerful indicator of our need for community because the act of talking requires another person. So, whether you’re an introvert who loves a quiet evening or an extrovert who thrives in larger crowds, the need for community remains vital. It’s not about the number of interactions, but the quality of the connections we have. We need it, and it’s worth prioritizing.
WHEN WISDOM ENCOUTERS SCRIPTURE
The need for companionship is introduced all the way back in Genesis. It’s right there from the very beginning
The need for companionship isn’t a modern psychological discovery, it’s woven into the very fabric of creation. In fact, it's introduced all the way back in Genesis, right at the beginning of the human story. It’s definitely a place where I find God and where I can see him revealed.
In Genesis 2:18, we read:
“The Lord God said, ‘It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.’”
This isn’t just a passing comment or a practical solution to Adam’s loneliness, it’s a divine declaration about human design. God had called everything else in creation “good,” but when He saw Adam alone, He called it “not good.” This tells us something profound: we were never meant to do life in isolation. From the beginning, we were created for relationship, for community, for companionship.
So when modern research confirms the emotional, psychological, and even physical benefits of strong social connection, it’s not surprising. Science is catching up to what Scripture has always shown: God designed us for one another. The ache we feel in loneliness isn’t weakness, it’s a reflection of a deeper truth. We were made to walk through life together.
But the Bible takes the concept of community even further than just meeting a basic human need. Scripture always goes deeper. Yes, we need others for support, encouragement, and well-being and research confirms that. But the Bible shows us that community isn't just for survival or emotional health. It's also about purpose and identity.
In Romans 12:4–5, Paul gives us a powerful picture:
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
What I love about this passage is how it shifts our view of community from simply being about connection to being about wholeness. It’s not just that we need each other to survive or feel less alone; we need each other to become the people we are meant to be. True community isn’t just a space where we find comfort, but a place where we are made whole.
It’s in the tension of our differences that we discover strength, healing, and growth. This is where grace is practiced. That’s where humility is required. That’s where healing often begins, because we learn we’re not the only ones carrying pain. And we begin to experience the beauty of being known, needed, and loved not in spite of our differences, but often because of them. This is the kind of growth that lasts. Not shallow agreement, but deep unity, the kind Christ prayed for in John 17. A unity forged not by sameness, but by love that binds across difference.
John 17:21:
“That they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
True Christian unity isn’t about erasing differences; it's about finding common ground in Christ. It’s where I find God.
It’s about accepting one another despite our diverse backgrounds, personalities, and life experiences. It’s about working through conflict and embracing diversity, recognizing that love is what holds us together, even when we disagree. This kind of unity is transformative because it reflects the very heart of the Gospel, it reflects God’s love for us, a love that isn’t contingent on our sameness but on our shared identity in Christ.
When we live out this kind of unity, we become a living testimony to the world of the power of God’s love. Jesus said that the world would know we are His disciples by our love for one another. This love, and the unity it fosters, has the power to heal divisions, restore relationships, and bring reconciliation in places that otherwise seem hopeless. Community is definitely a place where I find God.
And yes, it can be hard at first. Community takes time, trust, and a willingness to try again after disappointment. But even small, imperfect community can transform us. When we begin to see it not just as something we receive, but something we help build, our hearts shift. We move from isolation to belonging, from self-preservation to shared purpose.
And in return, we often find what we longed for all along: peace, comfort, joy, love, and a place to belong
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Citation
Canadian Community Health Survey. (2009-2014). Data from Canada's national health surveys. Statistics Canada.
The Bible. (2016). English Standard Version (ESV). Crossway.
(Original work published 2001)
