Drawing Nearer to God, Part 4: The Company You Keep

This is Part Four of my seven-part Drawing Nearer to God series. I heard my pastor talk about “drawing nearer to God,” and I found myself wondering - how do I actually do that? So I did what I always do: I started digging, Googling, and writing. Now I’m sharing what I’ve discovered along the way.

If drawing nearer to God were a solo sport, I’d have nailed it by now. Just me, my coffee, and maybe a Bible verse on my phone. No drama, no distractions, no messy people. Sounds nice, right?

Except… that’s not how God designed it.

Proverbs 27:17 says, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Translation: you need people in your life who won’t just nod along while you drift off course. You need friends who challenge you, encourage you, and sometimes lovingly smack you with truth when you’re acting like a spiritual knucklehead.

The problem? We don’t always want that. Community is messy. Church people are flawed. Small groups can feel like awkward therapy sessions where everyone’s “sharing” but no one’s really honest. And don’t even get me started on accountability partners who vanish after three weeks.

But here’s the deal: drawing nearer to God isn’t just about “me and Jesus.” It’s about “me and Jesus and His people.” Hebrews 10:24–25 puts it like this: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another…” .

You want to grow closer to God? You need the church. Not the building, not the perfect program, but the people.

Think about it. Even Jesus didn’t go it alone. He had His twelve disciples, plus Mary, Martha, Lazarus – the whole messy crew. Sure, they argued, doubted, and fell asleep when He needed them most, but they were still His people.

So here’s my Average Joe advice: stop waiting for perfect community. Join the Bible study that feels a little awkward. Say yes to coffee with the guy who talks too much. Stick with the small group even when attendance drops off.

Because the goal isn’t finding flawless friends – it’s finding fellow strugglers heading in the same direction. When you stumble, they’ll help you up. When they stumble, you’ll return the favor. That’s how iron sharpens iron. Sparks and all.

You don’t draw nearer to God by isolating yourself. You draw nearer by walking with His people – even when it’s messy. Especially when it’s messy.

Because in the end, the company you keep shapes the kind of disciple you become.