It doesn’t matter if you’re single or married, being part of a community group with others who are in the same stage of life you’re in is beneficial. It isn’t enough that singles hang out with other singles and married couples hang out with other married couples, but instead, that each person is part of a solid group that focuses on growing and flourishing during the season they are in. This can be anything from a Bible study group to a prayer group to a recovery group. These groups have notable benefits in the life of an individual.

Community groups support you during rough patches
Each stage of life has its deep, dark pits. Singles struggle with their yearning for a spouse, marrieds struggle with the refining fires of matrimonial commitment, parents struggle with the emotional pull between their children and their spouse, and widows struggle the ache of loss. Whatever stage of a relationship you are in, a support group helps you work through the fears and emotions that come with a particular season of life. The empathy in a community group is much more powerful in some instances, because those in the group have faced (or are currently facing) the same difficulties.

Community groups reveal insight and keep you hopeful
One of the best places to find useful insight is in the mind of someone else. The rut our own thought patterns cause can keep us from finding that fresh attitude that gives us hope and keeps us going. You will witness many miracles within a group, as well as amazing epiphanies and moments of strong spiritual wisdom. All of these things encourage the group to keep pressing into the Lord and working through the challenges they are facing.

Community groups help you celebrate the season you are in
Community groups not only help you get through the bad seasons, but they also make the good seasons much sweeter. A good community group celebrates the victories and miracles in a person’s life. Happiness multiplies within a group, even when the events are small.

Community groups help prepare you for future hurdles
I once heard a pastor say, “You’re either in the middle of a storm, in coming out of a one, or going into one.” It’s safe to say that when we are not in a storm, we should be preparing for the next one. Community groups help you prepare for future storms in a few ways. First, every person in a community group has faced different difficult situations. Sooner or later, you will probably face a similar scenario in your own life. By listening and connecting with others around you, you will gain insight on how others faced their situation and came out on the other side. Secondly, groups normally look at different scenarios and discuss the options available for the situation. While you may only see one solution for a problem, a group of people can put together a list of options that can be mentally referenced at a later time.

Community groups might be hard to find, but there is one out there for everybody. And if you’ve run out of places to look for a group, why not start one? Everyone is looking for a community to be a part of; one that edifies and strengthens them for the trialing seasons in life.