Even when community gets messy, we need each other

Thread conference was a space for young, single professionals to gather together, worship, encourage, and learn about God’s calling upon our lives. I joined without expecting much, as one reason to join is to meet potentials ;) yeah, I’m in that stage of life but the main thing for me was to meet believers in Hong Kong of similar age and generation.

I had been missing out on connecting with young professional believers during the pandemic and while serving in overseas programs, but now I’m back and ready to continue building relationships in Hong Kong.

We had different sessions and workshops with topics that were relevant for young professionals of different spheres of society (like me!) here is one of the main takeaways for me:

“Healing from relationships will come through relationships”

The first thing you might think is that this is talking about coming out from a romantic relationship. It’s actually about being a Christian community. As we hurt from relationships with family members, friendships, romantic relationships, or maybe people that have affected the way we connect with others, there is grace and love within a community of faithful believers.

So many times, we just want to run away and avoid overcoming our fears about relationships, we just want to deal with it on our own.

In the most discouraging seasons of my life, I’ve found it hard and precious at the same time, to have friends around me that have been supportive through listening and speaking God’s truth over my life.

There is definitely wisdom in who you let into your life (hopefully it isn’t just anyone!) but someone or a group of people who can walk with you, pray with you, and continue encouraging you.

Not too long ago, I was feeling very down in my overall self-esteem, disappointed with people and myself, and lacking motivation and passion for the things I was doing. I didn’t feel the need to share much and I didn’t want to burden others with my problems. I was relying a lot on my own strength, writing my personal struggles in my notes, and talking to God, yet I didn’t feel ready to open up to people.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
1 John 1:17

There were a few friendships in which I was able to be more open and vulnerable (not needing to mention all the details of my struggles) but it was like taking a deep breath and letting it out. Words have power, and there is power in sharing, verbally processing, or writing down what we are feeling.

I learned that being open and vulnerable is not easy, but it’s the way God has created us and we need each other’s support in our highs and lows. We need community, no matter how messy it may look, there is beauty and grace in a God-centered community.