Lent Devotional

My name is Joel Housholder. I am married to Cindy, and together we have three adult children and four grandchildren. I find my greatest joy in the privilege of family. After SMU, I earned a Th.M. and a Doctor of Ministry degree. I have been part of three impactful ministries: Young Life, Search, and International Fellowship. Additionally, Cindy and I have spoken across the United States with FamilyLife's Weekend to Remember marriage conferences.

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My aspiration through each ministry is fueled by a desire to see others grow in their faith and become all that God has created them to be. Cindy and I have enjoyed serving the local church in a variety of capacities over the years, and we have been at Fellowship for 24 years.

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Together Is Better: Why Community Is God's Design for a Flourishing Life (Psalm 133)

Is technology rotting our brains? Dr. Jim Denison recently posed this unsettling question in his Daily Article. His review of current research suggests that mindless scrolling and excessive screen time are doing real harm, contributing to eroded critical thinking, impaired executive functioning, memory disorders, and declining mental health. Even more concerning, Dr. Andrew Budson, a Boston University neurologist, reports, "People who become socially isolated — even if they don't have a disorder — actually experience brain shrinkage, and socially isolated individuals are at increased risk of developing dementia." Science is confirming what Scripture has long declared: isolation is not good.

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Made for Something More

In God's good creation, there was only one thing He declared "not good" — that man was alone (Gen. 2:18). We were not designed for self-sufficiency. Independence from God and from one another has been our nemesis since the beginning. Our attempts to fill this void with screens, busyness, or productivity never satisfy. We were made for something else. We were made for one another.

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Unity That Gives Life

Psalm 133 reminds us of the blessing God releases when His people live in true community: "How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity." The Hebrew word for unity in Psalm 133:1 is yaḥad. It does not describe institutional alliance or enforced loyalty; rather, it emphasizes togetherness, shared life, and relational nearness. It pictures companions who choose to walk closely, care deeply, and remain present with one another.

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This psalm quietly asks a probing question: How are you doing at building deep friendships? The psalmist invites us to recover the eternal value of human presence, touch, and mutual knowing — gifts no screen can replicate.

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The Beauty — and Cost — of Togetherness

Let's be honest: living in harmony is hard. Relational wreckage appears in all our rearview mirrors. We are naturally self-protective, bent toward hiding like Adam in the garden. Yet self-reliance is not God's highest value. Scripture consistently calls us to recognize our need for others.

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David helps us grasp the beauty of unity through two powerful metaphors: Unity is like precious oil poured on Aaron's head — holy, set apart, and pleasing to God. Unity is like the dew of Hermon falling on Zion — refreshing, life-giving, and sustaining.

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Unity among followers of Jesus is both sacred and life-giving. It honors God and attracts others. Jesus affirms this clearly: "As I have loved you, you must love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34–35). Who doesn't want to be loved and known in the safety of friends who genuinely care?

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A Necessary Challenge

So here is the question we cannot avoid: Who truly knows you, and whom are you intentionally knowing? Discovering how to love a friend as God loves you invites us into sacred spaces where God smiles and blessings overflow. Together is not just better — it is God's design.