Galatians 6

Be Still: Lord, I give this day – and this moment – to you. Help me turn my attention from life’s distractions and towards you and your presence. (Pause... close your eyes and.... breathe.) Come, lead me, and guide me today. I invite you into the depths of my heart. Amen 

Read: Galatians 6

‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.’ (6:2) 

Encounter: I love running. Surprisingly for an extrovert, I mostly love running alone. I enjoy the space to think and pray, choosing my own pace and distance. But whenever I do run with a friend, I always end up running further or faster than I would on my own. 

As the saying goes: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ That often proves true in running and exercise. And it’s true in many areas of life. But it’s especially true when it comes to following Jesus and growing in faith. 

Faith was never meant to be lived out in isolation. The Church comprises not of buildings, but of communities. We’re invited to journey together: to learn, pray, sing, laugh, and weep together. To carry burdens when they’re heavy, and to celebrate when joy comes. 

Even Jesus chose to share his life with others. He walked with friends, ate with them, rested with them, and invited them into his joys and sorrows. If he didn’t choose to do life alone, neither should we. 

Of course, community isn’t always easy. People disappoint us. We misunderstand one another. We get hurt. But the answer to imperfect community isn’t isolation – it’s grace. God uses real, messy relationships to shape us, heal us, and remind us that we don’t have to carry life on our own. 

Community doesn’t just help us when we’re struggling, though that matters deeply; it also strengthens us, stretches us, and helps us grow into the people God intends us to be. 

Apply: Who are you walking with right now? Are there people you share faith, life, and prayer with? If community feels distant, difficult, or disappointing, is there a small step you could take – reaching out, showing up, or opening up – to move towards it again? 

Devote: Jesus, thank you that you call us to follow you together. Thank you for the gift of community. Help me lean in during this season – to be present, honest, and open to what you want to do in and through the people around me.