Day 9: Life in the Wilderness
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When I was a kid, we had a cat called Sam that ran away, but he came back two years later. While we were stoked, he learned to fend for himself and make it in the wild. He came back and he was completely feral and scary.
If you went near his food, he'd bite you and scratch you, and he’d sneak out at night and fight other cats. He wasn't the same cruisy cat we remembered.Sam's return reminded me of how much community matters. When we isolate ourselves and remove ourselves from our support networks, we can turn a little feral. Yes, independence is important, but we are built for community.
So if you've got a loved one in the wilderness, go get them and bring them back to the family. And if you're in the wilderness yourself, maybe it's time to come home.
Let’s Talk
The cat story is cool, but also kind of sad, because I think a lot of us go to ground when we get hurt.
We retreat from people. Build walls. Get defensive. And slowly, our guarded disposition becomes our normal posture.
Maybe that’s you right now.
Maybe you’ve been let down by community — by friends, church, family — and it’s just easier to do life alone.
When you’re alone there is no drama. No fake hugs. No annoying people. No vulnerability required.
But here’s the catch:
Healing and growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in connection.
God never designed you to walk it out solo.
You were built for community — not codependency or chaos — but with grace-drenched, truth-speaking, life-giving relationships that actually help you flourish in who you are.
Even Jesus didn’t go it alone. And if He needed friends, we probably do too.
I get that letting people in is risky when you’ve been hurt. You don’t want to explain yourself again. You don’t want to be too much — or not enough.
You’d rather keep your distance than risk being dismissed. So it feels better to stay in the shadows,
But here’s the truth:
You’re not a stray who is better off alone.
You’re not too messy, too broken, or too late.
You’re a son. You’re a daughter. You belong to God and he made you well. No matter how long you’ve been gone, the table still has your name on it.
Come home.
Scripture
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.”
— Galatians 6:2 (NIV)
Mental Health Moment
Loneliness isn’t just an emotion — it’s a risky way to live.
Long-term disconnection can elevate stress hormones, worsen depression, and even rewire your brain’s ability to trust.
When you isolate, you start assuming people don’t care.
You second-guess invites.
You rehearse rejection before it happens — so you just avoid it entirely.
But you were never meant to grow in a vacuum.
Mental health thrives in safe relationships.
Not perfect ones — just real ones.
The kind that don’t flinch when you say, “I’m not doing great today.”
Practice for Today
Take a moment and reflect:
Have I pulled away from people lately?
What’s one reason I’ve been staying distant?
Now… take one simple step toward connection.
Call a mate. Text someone. Go for a walk with a friend.
You don’t need a grand re-entry plan. Just take the first step.
And if you know someone who’s been distant — reach out.
Not with guilt. Just grace.
A Prayer for the Disconnected
Jesus,
Sometimes I pull away because it feels safer to be alone.
But I know You didn’t create me to go solo.
Remind me that I belong.
Give me courage to reconnect.
And help me show up — even if it’s messy.
Amen.
Reflection Prompt
Have you been hiding in plain sight?
What would it look like to let someone in — even just a little?
And if someone else has been wandering…
What would it mean to go after them — not with pressure, but presence?
