Advent Devotional Day 1- Joy in Community

By: Cara Stowers, Volunteer

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2: 42-47

Community has been a huge part of my adult life. I grew up in a small town with a tight-knit family and was constantly surrounded by a support system that was easy and comfortable. Even in college, it was easy to make friends and be part of small groups with girls who were just like me and had a similar life story. Shortly after my husband and I got married, we moved away from our families and friends and quickly learned about the value of community. We left our community group of 15 of our closest newlywed friends to join a Sunday school class where we were the youngest members by 20 years. In that season we were led by people who had already been in our shoes. We were embraced and cared for through several very difficult events that happened in our family, and I was supported as I became a new mom and lost my mom within 6 months.

Then we moved again- further from home, and away from another community that we had come to love and rely on. But the Lord was good. He surrounded us with a new community that has blessed us and grown us in ways we couldn't have even imagined. We have made friends that feel like family simply because we are in each other's homes, breaking bread, and growing together toward Christ. We have learned that our "ideal community" doesn't exist only with people who are in our same life season or who have a similar testimony to ours. It is found in the people who meet us where we are, even when it isn't pretty. It is found in the people who are meeting our needs or who are vulnerable enough to let us help meet their needs. It is found in the people who let us into their lives so that we can cry with them, pray with them, and praise God with them because we are united in our faith and have the same goal of bringing glory to God.

This year our community group has had the privilege to share monthly meals at The Field's Edge and our community has grown even more. We have had the opportunity to help meet the needs of residents at TFE, but we have also had the opportunity to experience the generosity of the residents as they have welcomed us and cared for us while we are there. Our kids have been loved on, we have been prayed for, and we have been embraced by a community that is starting to feel like family. We have experienced the joy and commonality that can only be found in our faith in Christ, and my prayer is that the Lord continues to surround us with a community that is constantly meeting us where we are and pushing us toward Christ.