Do you ever feel like you are on the run relationally?  Do you ever feel like there is no one who can understand you so you start subtly pulling away from people and community?  One of the main indicators that we are not doing well is if we start to pull away from people and community.  Often we are not even aware that we are doing it.  It is like a force that pulls us away and isolates our hearts from truly engaging in the important issues in life.  Relational isolation kills.  Even in the midst of our pain, hurt and spiritual confusion we need to learn to run into community rather than run from community.  We need to learn to intentionally engage in developing relationships and realize that the quality of life itself is dependent upon developing deep lasting relationships and engaging in healthy community.

The problem does not go away just because you go to church. Many sit every week in quiet pain longing for someone to step into their life.  In the words of an old country song, they feel they are knee deep in a river but dying of thirsty.  They see what they perceive as healthy relationships all around them, but do not know how to connect.  Here is where the Church, the Body needs to step it up and move toward people more intentionally and created a safe environment for people to connect on a deep level.  Here are four key thoughts that we all wrestle with and that need to be addressed if we are going to engage in community rather than isolate ourselves.

What do you do with the thought; I shouldn’t be feeling like this? Do you know how you are suppose to feel?  Start asking Jesus how He wants you to feel and let Him show you in His Word.

What do you do with the thought; I can’t share this with others? Share it with Jesus and ask Him to show you who to share it with.  He desires to bless you with deep lasting safe relationships. 

Do you regularly struggle with; Comparing your behind the scenes life with others highlight reels? We all struggle with this unhealthy tendency of comparing our behind scenes struggles with others public successes.  Everybody has struggles and if we continue to get locked into this comparison it will only drive us to more relational isolation.

Do you regularly struggle with; Letting life’s circumstances determine the state of your heart? Jesus came that our heart’s would be free even though we still live in a world at war.  We are to move toward Jesus and He promises He will move toward us:

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.”  -James 4:8