“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” –Hebrews 10:24-25
“Fellowship” is defined as a friendly association, especially with people who share one’s interests—such as a group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim, or a guild or corporation. It has also become a term used to describe a gathering of church folk. It is what church folk do before and after a worship service. It is what church folk do before and after Bible study and Sunday school. It is also what church folk do just because it gives them meaning and purpose to share with one another their thoughts, dreams and desires. It is what I do every week to give me life.
I am an extreme introvert. You may be asking me how fellowship gives me, an extreme introvert, life. I have undiagnosed attention deficit disorder. I am one of those who seeks out answers to my medical conditions on WebMD. All the anxiety and depression I feel every day often times keeps me from wanting to face the world and makes me wish to retreat into my own little bubble. Fellowship does not allow me to do that. Fellowship allows me to step out of my comfort zone and experience the world through the eyes of other people whom I love and cherish in my life. Fellowship allows me to appreciate all those people whom God has put forth in my life to encourage me, ground me, support me and love me. And, yes, I am extremely tired and completely drained after retreating to my comfort zone, as all introverts are.
I am so grateful and thankful that I have my circle of friends and family that I can turn to in my times of woe and all around downtroddeness. God has given me people who provoke me to love and good deeds, never neglecting to draw me into fellowship with them. They encourage me as we wait together for the coming Day of our Lord.
So, what is saving my life right now? It’s fellowship. The joy that comes with knowing that I am not alone in this world. The comfort that comes with knowing there are people who love and support me. The peace that comes with knowing God will never leave or forsake me. It reminds me of one of my favorite hymns:
What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. Refrain: Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Pray, Practice, Ponder
I encourage you to find a group to engage in fellowship. You may have a group that you meet with regularly. Discuss with them what is saving your life right now. If you are without a group currently, find at least two to three people to meet with you who have a common interest. There is healing in a group gathered together. There is love in a group gathered together. There is peace in a group gathered together.
Pray...Give...Go.