One evening last week, I stood in our driveway watching a beautiful white sports car start up and slowly disappear down the street. As our friends drove away, I couldn’t help but smile at the way God had provided for our family in such an unexpected and personal way.
Our doctor had just made a house call.
Let me explain.
A few years earlier, my wife, Julia, joined a discipleship group at our church. She only knew a few of the women, and while she was excited about the opportunity, she was also a little nervous. Still, she wanted to be part of a community of believers who were walking through a similar season of life.
The group met every week at the home of its leader, Carrie. Carrie was a stay-at-home mom of two middle schoolers, the wife of a local trauma surgeon, and someone who had faithfully followed Jesus for many years.
What began as a short-term Bible study commitment turned into a year of weekly meetings, then two years, and eventually a third year of friendship between Julia and Carrie beyond the formal group.
Over that time, something beautiful happened: they became true friends.
Julia found in Carrie a woman who was a few steps ahead in life—a wise, godly example who loved Jesus and was willing to share what she had learned. Carrie encouraged Julia in her marriage, motherhood, and faith. She didn’t just offer advice; she listened, cared, and made room for friendship.
And I believe Carrie saw something in Julia too. She saw a young woman who genuinely wanted to grow, who desired to honor God, and who was willing to learn.
As their friendship grew, our families began to experience what happens when people choose to live in genuine Christian community.
When Carrie’s daughter needed help preparing for a vocal audition, Julia was there with her experience as a vocal coach. When our children were born, Carrie and her husband visited us in the hospital and brought us a meal. When their son needed help preparing for a youth worship audition, we were able to encourage him.
Small moments. Simple acts. But they were signs of something bigger.
We were no longer just people who attended the same church. We were sharing life.
Then came the night that brought all of this into focus.
Our older son accidentally hit our younger son in the face with a hard plastic bath toy. A small cut opened below his eye, and Julia and I immediately went into parent mode—trying to decide whether we needed to rush to the emergency room.
As we debated what to do, one thought came out loud:
“I wish we had a doctor we could just call.”
Then I remembered something Carrie had told us many times: if we ever had a medical question or needed anything, just call.
“Julia, let’s call Carrie!”
While I comforted our son, Julia called her. She expected to ask a quick question and get some reassurance.
But before we knew it, a white sports car pulled into our driveway.
Carrie and her husband walked through our front door and sat down with us, examining our son and helping us know what to do.
Thankfully, he didn’t need a trip to the ER. That night ended with everyone safe and resting.
But Julia and I went to bed thinking about something much bigger than a cut near our son’s eye.
We were amazed at how God had designed His people to care for one another.
In our moment of uncertainty, God didn’t send help through a stranger. He provided through a relationship He had been building for years.
That night, we received a courtesy house call from one of the best trauma surgeons in our area—not because we had earned it, but because God had placed faithful people around us.
That is the beauty of community.
So here is the question: Are you living in community, or are you living isolated?
Do you have people at your church who truly know you? Are there believers who can celebrate with you, encourage you, challenge you, and walk beside you? Or do you simply attend each week without ever letting yourself be known?
God never designed us to follow Him alone.
If you feel disconnected, take a step toward others. Join a group. Start a conversation. Invite someone into your life. Commit to building relationships that go deeper than Sunday mornings.
Because when we live in biblical community, we don’t just find friendship—we experience the way God intended His family to function.
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
— Proverbs 27:17
Additional Resources
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