Her Faith Thrives

Guest Post By Wisdeen Wu

The year was 2016. The wedding count by the end of it all was 9.  How did I get invited to so many weddings?! To me, the invitation to a wedding also feels like a shift in how my community will look. People who were once part of my life, hanging out together, participating in Bible study, sharing meals together, are not going to be part of my life in the same way. Sometimes that shift looks like friends moving away, or sometimes it just means more intentionality and planning in how I spend time with them. In the midst of the shifting nature of life, here I am, a single woman in her 30s, seeking to find community when it feels like everyone else is moving on.

Community is a key component of our spiritual growth as believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”  There is something that the Spirit does in and through us when we commit to meeting with other believers regularly. We encourage one another and build each other up in faith by reminding each other of God’s character and promises in His word.  We offer healing to one another through prayer (James 5:16). We bring God’s kingdom closer through gathering together and praying towards kingdom things (Matthew 18:19-20). God himself models community in His Triune nature. We, as God’s people, were meant to live life communally.  

When I consider the shifting nature of life, I have asked myself in those changing seasons how I can keep community as a regular part of my spiritual habits. It is one discipline that can be easy to neglect. In some seasons, it feels harder than others, such as when lots of friends move away or priorities are shifting due to circumstances. Those friends don’t stop being my friends when life changes, but I also don’t want to take time away from their other priorities or pressing needs they may have. Hence, my challenge, and perhaps fear, of seeking community.  

When I’ve been faced with these challenges, God shows me new spaces to grow in relationships.  He shows me a bigger picture of being part of the body of Christ, no matter what life stage or circumstance I am in. In those seasons, I continue to pursue my established friendships and ask to be a part of their life in new ways, whether it is by weekly phone calls or spending time with a family during their weekly movie night. I get creative in how I offer my time to others and also enter each situation with a changed mindset, free of an expectation of how that time should be spent. Not all of my time with others has to be spent in deep intense spiritual conversations or doing a book study together. It may look like playing a game with their kids and chatting about life, or bringing them food when they get sick. I also start thinking of other places I may not be familiar with to build community, whether it is a new Bible study group outside my usual demographic or a group built around a common interest like volunteering somewhere. Finding and focusing on what we have in common helps me build connections with others.  

This past year, continuing in Biblical community has felt especially challenging, but again God provided opportunities to stay connected through virtual means when in-person meetings were limited. Being able to face life’s challenges with community, no matter where they are coming from, has made my spiritual life richer.  Being a part of my friends’ lives, as they start families and bring in little ones into the world or mourned loved ones or weathered health issues, has brought a depth to our friendship that wasn’t present when we were all in the same stages in our lives. We share in each other’s burdens and remind each other of God’s goodness and grace no matter the season. 

So I encourage you, friends, that no matter where you may find yourself this year, to continue to pursue your relationships that are established and build them deeper, but also look around at who is near you, that you can invite into your spiritual community. Don’t let fear or assumptions keep you from asking that one person that the Spirit put on your mind. Use your creativity to find new spaces and means to connect. Let’s keep building God’s kingdom as we spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  

Reflective questions: 

• Growth: Where does community feel like it is changing for you? 
• Connection: Think of just one person you’d like to join your community. What would it look like to extend an invitation to know them better?  
• Gratitude: Thank God for those in your community currently. Thank those people personally for being a part of your community and tell them what it means to you. 

Wisdeen Wu lives and works in San Antonio, TX. Outside of her work as a pediatrician, she spends her time hanging out or grabbing a meal with friends, going for a run, journaling/reading at a coffee shop, or watching college sports (Sic Em!).

For Further Encouragement

Were you encouraged by this blog post? I would love to connect with you on our special Her Faith Thrives Newsletter which goes out every other month. In each newsletter, I share a short reflection about how I’m growing in my faith during this season of life. Plus, I’ll be sending you some fantastic resources to inspire and guide you on your own faith journey. When you subscribe, you will receive my all-time favorite tool for making your Daily Quiet Time truly meaningful. It’s called “From Routine to Reverence: 3 Simple Steps to a Deeper Daily Quiet Time.” I can’t wait to hear how it helps you deepen your time in God’s Word.