During the darkest days of healing from the effects of childhood abuse, I often felt alone. I didn’t trust anyone to stay with me because I didn’t like myself and couldn’t imagine anyone caring enough to tolerate my mood swings, flashes of anger, and poor choices during that season. In fact, I often sabotaged relationships because I believed people would eventually abandon me—and I wanted to control the story by pushing them away first.
As I healed, I realized I needed community.
Not only did I need it, but I had to learn how to *be part of* a community that loved me unconditionally. I also began trusting God a little more, and with each new connection, I felt less alone. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the importance of reaching out for support, but today I’m thinking about something deeper—being part of a community that walks with me long-term.
Even though I no longer live on the edge of chaos, I still need community. Yes, it’s still hard for me to make and build relationships, but I know my emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being depends on having people who will surround me as I continue to grow and heal.
What Is Community?
Community is more than the place I live. It’s made up of people who share values and love one another. For me, that includes family, my church, and trusted friends. Community also means a group of people who hold one another accountable. When I mess up, I trust my community to surround me—to point out when I’m drifting back toward old patterns or behaviors, but to do it in a loving and supportive way.
Through my community, I’m reminded that I don’t have to walk through life alone. Most importantly, community includes my relationship with God, who will never leave me or forsake me. All of these relationships take care and cultivation—they grow best when I nurture them instead of sabotaging them.
Community Represents God’s Love in Action
As we step into this week, I’m sitting with a few questions:
– Who has quietly walked beside me lately? Their name came to mind before I even finished writing that question. I think I’ll send a quick note or simply thank God for them today.
– What made that connection feel safe? When I look closer, it’s usually the small things—steady kindness, gentle honesty, and the freedom to not have to explain everything.
– Who might need that same kind of presence from me? Someone popped into my mind just now. Maybe I can check in, listen, or just be available without trying to fix a thing.
God often shows His presence through the people who simply stay.
This week’s tool, *Walking Beside,* is about noticing those everyday reminders that we’re not meant to do life—or healing—by ourselves.
However your week unfolds, I hope you’ll pause long enough to notice who’s walking with you—and maybe take one small step toward someone who needs to know they’re not walking alone either.
Tool of the Week — Walking Beside
Notice where God shows up in companionship—both given and received.
Faith in the Fog
A few days ago, the advanced copies arrived. Seeing the book in print reminded me again how far this journey has come. If you’ve already pre-ordered, thank you. If you haven’t yet, you can find it here.
Stay Connected
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Pray • Share • Give
If this reflection encouraged you, would you take a moment to:
– Pray — that Faith in the Fog finds its way into the hands of those who need its message of hope and healing and that I listen to God’s voice in all that I do.
– Share — this post with someone who might need the reminder that they’re not walking alone.
– Give — if you’d like to help make it possible for Faith in the Fog to reach those who need help navigating the fog of healing, you can do that here.
