The Healing of Community
Jesus lived his life in community. From his childhood with Mary and Joseph to his calling and traveling with the disciples to his declaration that he and the Father were one, Jesus lived in community. A community of faith nurtured him, supported him. And informed him (“Who do the crowds say that I am?” Luke 9:18).
It is unthinkable that we would try to live a faithful life without the gifts offered in a faithful community of Jesus. Jesus was known for valuing solitude since he retired to rest and pray, but living in community also marked his life.
Jesus makes a dramatic and revolutionary promise when he says, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matt. 18:20). This is a welcome promise to those who may wonder if God is present in their lives or their affairs.
This is a hopeful promise for those who sometimes feel alone and forsaken. This is an enormous assurance for those who face the unknown and need companionship and community.
We can be sure that Jesus keeps his promise and that when we gather in his name, he will be with us. We are often blessed by being in community. We receive encouragement, guidance, comfort, and hope by participating in a community.
We often find our faith strengthened in community. These gifts of community are available to us all, and we receive them more readily when we remember that Jesus meets us there.
—Reuben P. Job, A Guide to Prayer from All Who Seek God
Jesus lived his life surrounded by people—family, friends, and followers. He taught in crowds, prayed with his disciples, and leaned into fellowship even as he sought solitude for rest. His words and actions remind us that community is not a luxury in the spiritual life—it’s a necessity. He asked, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” not because he needed affirmation, but because he understood that we often discover who we are in relationship with others. Healing, too, begins not just in personal reflection but in connection—with God and with others.
In the darkest moments of mental health struggles or addiction, isolation can feel like both a refuge and a trap. But Jesus promises, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” In community, we find Christ. We find shoulders to lean on, voices that speak truth and hope, and hands that help us walk the road of recovery. You don’t have to face your healing alone. Jesus shows up in the faces of those who care, listen, and walk beside you. Community is one of God’s greatest gifts on the path to wholeness. —DH
—David Hoskins, Founder & Care Guide, Sanctuary Clinics