The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor; for if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up! Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”

—Ecclesiastes 4:9–12

This is often taken to be a passage only about marriage, but shepherds, travelers, soldiers, and the like would all “lie together” at night to stay warm. This is about our need for community within the whole body of Christ.

We’re not made for isolation. We need others to help and work alongside us. We need support when we stumble, whether in body or spirit. We need a listening ear when circumstances are harsh. We need protection when we’re threatened.

True fellowship is difficult in our culture. We’re not encouraged to be honest about our struggles, ask for help, or reach out when others need it, but that’s what the church is meant to be. We’re supposed to love one another fervently, welcome with generosity even when it’s inconvenient, and serve one another in the ways God has equipped us (1 Peter 4:8–10). None of this happens by accident.

Finding this type of community requires stepping out of our comfort zones and facing rejection. We’ve learned not to prioritize this kind of life, and most of us are busy and stressed. That’s all the more reason to live this way; as we reach out, we’ll often discover we’ve built a deep fellowship that is also helping to bear our own burdens.

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