It felt good to belong: my husband and I were surrounded by wonderful friends, a community that fostered our spiritual growth, and people we knew we could count on. We shared common interests, cheered each other on, cried together, prayed for one another and did life to the max. What the church was called to be in Romans 12:5 was what we experienced, “in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”
The beautiful thing about discovering true belonging is that it isn’t dependent on what we’ve done or will do, rather, it is about what Jesus has already done for us on the cross.
In the fall of 2020, we were called to move out of Colorado, the only home we ever knew. I was instantly met with tears, heartbreak, and the fear of missing out (major FOMO). As silly as it seemed, those feelings held me captive as I spent countless nights praying but not listening, overwhelmed but not trusting, and defined by how (loved) these people made me feel.
“These are my people; this is where I belonged.”
“I will never find a community such as this.”
At least that’s what I thought. Maybe you’ve felt this same uncertainty about belonging. A change of job, school, or location; even in our local church: the one who feels like they are too old and can’t contribute, the one who is not married and doesn’t fit in, or the one who is holding a grudge from a bad experience. But the truth is, it’s not actually the people, the place, or the circumstance that determine our belonging– it’s our disconnect with Christ.
What a privilege it is to know that we were chosen as God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10).
As humans, we all desire to belong with others: to love and be loved, but this can also make us forget our true sense of belonging in Christ first. During Jesus’ ministry, many people were outcasts because of their physical health, culture, or status. They surely didn’t belong to their society but in Christ they had purpose and worth. This love and compassion is still true for me and you today. The beautiful thing about discovering true belonging is that it isn’t dependent on what we’ve done or will do, rather, it is about what Jesus has already done for us on the cross.
Our people, place, or circumstance may change— my did and it hurt so much, but Jesus remained the same (Hebrews 13:8). I have been able to see God’s faithfulness unfold and testify that His goodness was not only limited to our life in Colorado. What a privilege it is to know that we were chosen as God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10). When we learn to embrace this truth, we can:
1. Gain Godly confidence in who we are
2. Understand that we have an eternal purpose
3. Fit in wherever we are placed
4. Discover great joy in our circumstances
5. Break down our walls of disconnect
Wherever you are in life right now, take a moment to consider where (or who) your belonging is found. If Christ didn’t pop up first, I encourage you to say a prayer to invite Him into every area so that your identity, purpose, and worth may be found in Him before anything or anyone else.
Angel Comer (N. Preston Comer)
Angel Comer (N. Preston Comer) lives in California with her husband and Krew (Kaedyn, Karsyn, and Kynsli). She works in higher ed and is currently pursuing graduate school and TEE. She is passionate about leadership and has a heart for nam tsev, young couples, and the next generation. Angel loves
to cheer for her boys in sports and spend time with her family/friends; her favorite food is Thai and favorite reminder of God’s glory is time spent at the beach.
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