The truth is, I am still working on overcoming beliefs that hold me back. Especially beliefs that have to do with my self-worth. I relate to Summer’s story so much. In my case, I often have a difficult time separating my value from how people hurt or betray me. I need a spiritual revelation that helps me understand where my value comes from. I call it a ‘revelation’ because I often know that my worth comes from God, but I have a hard time believing it. I trust that this will come eventually.

I used to think that because I had grace, it didn’t matter that I had sin in my life. In reality, although I am and always will be a sinner, the sins that I had left unattended in my life were leaving me more of a reflection of myself rather than Christ.

I believed that I was unworthy of love. Only deserving of hate and abuse. Now I can call that a loe. Now I have friends that love me so deeply. Now I can let myself receive the Lords love, because He doesn’t want to hurt me either.

I've found I'm unable to overcome limiting beliefs by myself. God has put people in my life who do believe in me, and those people have loved me so strongly that it breaks through any limitations I put on myself.

i have overcome false beliefs with truth. in some ways it’s the only way to do it. truth, truth, truth. it sets me free from myself. sometimes you have to say those truths until you believe them, until they truly sink in and begin to change you.

I'm still overcoming these beliefs

Some of my experiences make me feel separate from my Christian community. But my beliefs also allow me to love everyone within that community and receive their love.

It connects in the sense that my beliefs lead me to see the value in human beings. I desire community that is centered on grace and respect. Diversity enhances community in its inclusion of different perspectives. Unfortunately, the temptation to disrespect those who think differently is what can lead to separation.

Shared beliefs connect us to each other in superficial ways. But love that grows despite contradicting beliefs is often stronger than love based on a watery agreement.

beliefs definitely inspire more connectedness. i think that God has made us to be together and not in isolation. perhaps the only separation comes from a feeling of having to leave because one community is toxic and another isn’t

My beliefs separate. They normally cause fights. I hate fighting so I usually just dont share my beleifs. But that makes me an imposter in most situations. I dont feel connected then though because they dont know me. Do I have community?

growing up my community was tight knit. Most of them were related to me or went to my church. It showed me that in community you are known and always have people to support you.

I find it is easy to strike up conversation about my faith and where I see God moving with any Christian that I meet. It’s amazing to see the way that Christ brings complete strangers together.

Honestly, I’m still struggling with this. It’s harder to let go of an offense when I know the person didn't mean to hurt me, but the hurt is still there. I have to remind myself to trust in God and that if I grow close to Him, I’ll be able to respond out of love.

Sometimes it’s hard to overcome those beliefs that I’m not good enough or that I won’t succeed. It’s refreshing to hold true to the fact that God has designed me with specific qualities for specific reasons, and that as long as I’m striving for the glory of Him, I will be enough, because He makes up my shortcomings.

I think I've held prejudices that it took time for me to even notice, but once I did I was able to at least start working on them. One day when I was maybe 4 or 5, I realized how many people are paralyzed by fear. I decided not to be one. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to do what must be done in spite of it.

I pray to God and ask Him how I can conquer these ungodly beliefs because I know that they are the works of the devil.

i think those things fluctuate. i have come to recognize that God is the most constant thing, but even then there are times when i feel like i need something more than God. learning what truth to hold onto is something i’m learning now, thankfully, but it is a constant process. it’s almost never really over

I've always held onto people. Those around me have always been my salvation through difficult times.
When my family was in shambles my brother and I were tighter than ever. I realized in 11th grade that people were human and that a more perfect relationship was with God.

I hold on to the truth of God’s love. Nothing can separate me from Gods love. My behavior, whether good or bad, does not fluctuate Gods love for me. While life has its ups and downs, Gods love remains constant. God loves and God understands me. Faith in God gives me hope and strength to press on.

I hold onto the belief that all is within God’s control. Everything moves towards a greater plan that He has for me and those around me. Even if what He wants is sometimes painful for me, that is what ultimately is best. God is always good.

I believe that it all has to be for some reason. Gods never left before and He wont leave now. He cant leave, its in His nature to be everywhere. So it must just be that I can’t see him in those moments. So I wait for him to show up again

in times of crisis I hold onto the immense detail God puts into their creation. if God can put this much detail into a leaf or a drop of water or the curve of a rock their must be hope that God cares about some detail God put into me.

Eternity is bigger than this life. Something better is yet to come.

My beliefs do draw lines for me, but they're not walls. They're guidelines that help me stay grounded in Truth. I believe I am free to cross these lines, and others can always cross them (either way). These lines aren't about us and them, they're about orienting to Christ.

I have middle-school and high-school friends that have different beliefs from me. My then boyfriend, whom I met in high school, wanted to have sex with me. When I told him that I wanted to wait, he was disappointed that I wasn’t giving in.

In general, I definitely don't share all the beliefs of my friends, or vice versa. Sometimes my beliefs set me apart, sometimes they bring people together. It all depends on how the context, and how wrapped up you are in your surroundings. My community is not really location-based. It's people-centered.

At school, my beliefs have connected me with my community. Discussions about beliefs, shared or otherwise, have been instrumental in the development of my closest friendships here.

Offering them up to God in prayer. That may be overly simplistic and it is by no means easy, but it does work.

The best way I’ve found to combat wrong or harmful beliefs is to meet them with powerful truths. Long ago, my beliefs about myself were wrong and hurtful; since then, I have met them with the powerful truth that I am a daughter of the King and absolutely nothing in this world can change that.

The belief that I'm not good enough is so oppressive, but allowing, and telling myself to try my best and work hard dagates that belief.

I believe you can grow a garden anywhere you go. I will be able to cultivate myself and others no matter where God leads me.

They connect me to my community at Messiah, but sometimes disconnect me from the world.

God is Love in the fullest sense, and this also means that He is a person(s)/someone who loves and does so unconditionally and ultimately.

I hold on to the idea that God has carried through every struggle I've been through. Every time I can look back on my past with 20-20 vision, I can see God's intervention clearly. I carry on knowing I will always look at the present this same way in the future.

I hold on to the belief that I am loved by God and that He has plans for my good. It’s a struggle, but I’ve had to let go of the belief that I’m good enough and that I can do everything on my own. I’m still working on that.

I also pray, but less in an asking time, and more of a seeking solace, love, and comfort way. I spend time with friends, and I look for advice from friends and family.

I hold on to the truth that He has a bigger plan that I cannot see. I know that no matter what darkness I may encounter, His light will always shine through.

I hold onto the fact that even when times are tough, I know God loves me.

I am not sure yet.

I have dealt with depression and self hatred. I’ve recently learned to love myself more, but hate still holds me back sometimes. I’m still changing.

When someone hurts you, it’s hard to forgive and forget. I think reminding myself that I’m a sinner just like others helps me to see God’s reflection in them.

I have talked with others about my self-limiting beliefs, and they have helped to lift me up and help me realize that I am more than what I think of myself

I live in a fairly close community. Yes, there are diferences, but we do not allow them to distance us.

My beliefs really connect me to my community because my core belief in life is that nothing else really matters except putting Christ into the world and loving others the way he has loved me first. This belief connects me to my community because it allows and even motivates me to love them despite any of the things that may separate us.

Sharing beliefs with my community members enables deeper growth within the community and allows that community to Branch out into other communities.

Hearing the truth about what Christ says about my situation

I remember that Christ is there no matter how I feel. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. His promises do not rely on my feelings; they rely upon His integrity, and He’s not going to stop with me now.

Whether or not I strongly believed it, I felt as if my relationship with God was predicated on my works. Finally I hit a point in which I emotionally connected with the concept of grace and I think that’s when I finally was able to free myself from a lot of shame and start to pursue the person I want to be

One belief that I have is being self-conscious in how other people perceive me. I do my best to overcome this by telling myself that it doesn't matter what other people think and that God made me who I am for a reason and gave me talents that have given me a purpose.

God says, "I am who I am." From that we know what whatever we are going through at the end of the day or week or month God is God.

I have to constantly take a step back and consider what these beliefs are doing to me. How they affect my future, my relationships, my day to day life. I have to truly consider what kind of life i really want to live.

I turn to God. He is the only help in a time of crisis.

God works all things together for good for those who love him.

By resting in the love of God and trusting in Him

I was raised to think for myself. To think critically and without fear of hard answers. Many people do not want to face the truth and I fear that this will separate me. But ultimately community is based on love and that is something will give to anyone, even those not willing to receive.

I have always felt a part of a different community or culture than I lived in. Sometimes I just don’t really know how to communicate with other people.

Community can be built off of familiar experiences and memories that people share. I know in my family, faith beliefs are different but we can still bond over love for certain traditions and members that are no longer with us.

I believe God made humans to be in community always, no matter the differences and no matter the circumstances. Growing with others will always be better than growing alone. It just makes us all the more human.

I find that at Messiah, my beliefs really connect me with the community, but in my high school and beyond, I find myself isolated and constantly on guard.

My lifestyle sometimes do not match up with what the people in my community believes and it is a hard thing to navigate around it

I have a hard time believing in myself and loving myself because of things I have been through. I used to be depressed for a long time. I try to remember to talk with others since I get energy from other people and try to find joy in the things I love.

I tend to hold onto verses or prayer as a communication route to God. I think I also hold tightly to friends and family, hoping that the positivity and happiness they bring overshadow whatever circumstances is present.

In times of crisis I tell myself that I am stronger than this. And that God has a bigger purpose for me. So just hang on in there. No matter how hard it is. Even if it only gets harder.

Sometimes honestly I'm not sure. I hold on to my belief that I was created for a purpose...but sometimes it's hard.

Faith is fluid. We don’t arrive but grow and regress depending on what we face and see and experience and how we frame our experiences to our beliefs. We choose our interpretation of experiences and our beliefs evolve in the process.

That God is good. That He’s always got my back. And what I want might not be what He wants and I have to let go of my own humanly desires. To just surrender myself.

Being someone who is not relatively religious, I would sometimes forget that there is a God with me and that I can depend on Him instead of depending on my own strength

God has been the only way I have been able to move on from hurt and from my own limitations. He shows me how He can heal me and how much I can grow and help others with Him.

I, like Kristian, pray. I also read books and keep in contact with friends so that some things at least stay steady. Bottling up feelings only hurts.

Seeing other people’s stories and and how they persevered helped me overcome the belief that I will never be 100% happy

Deep breathes, guidance from others, prayer, tears, calling out to God even in the darkness, even in the worst times of my life. Just calling out to God.

Similar beliefs usually unite me with other people. Different beliefs don't necessarily separate me but they don't connect me either.

I often find myself split between two worlds, the Christian world at Messiah, and the secular world at home. It can be hard for me to decide truly what I believe in when I am constantly swayed by each side.

I think that my beliefs over all connect to my community. There’s definitely places where people disagree with some of the specifics of what I believe but once they learn the core of those beliefs and understand who I am, it becomes respect in disagreement.

I am more connected to my community in my beliefs now than I ever have been before in my life. The Christian community that surrounds me now keeps me rooted in what is good, and my friends and I keep each other on the right path.

It's an odd thing really, sometimes I'll feel like my community is full of people who share my beliefs, other times, however, I feel like they differ more than I'd like. I want to feel connected to the important people in my life.

My beliefs provide a foundation for my community and bond me to it. One family member does not share my beliefs, but gives me space to have them. I respect that family member and give the same space to her. Despite that difference, we both believe in the power of community and know it meets some of our deepest needs.
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There was a time when I felt cut off from community, it was one of the most difficult times I can recall. I felt empty and like something vital was missing. Once circumstances changed and I was reconnected through a new community, I felt a joy return and a healing begin.

I hold to my faith. When I don’t know or understand what is happen to me or around me I look to the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-12 reminds me to lean into my faith in crisis.

I hold onto the belief that my family loves me and that my belief in God is valid and that the Bible holds truth to guide me.

It is easy to fall back on prayer - but sometimes in times of crisis I can forget that God is ALWAYS present.

I have had many points of my life where I felt very isolated and had a lot of free mind space. In those times I have often beat myself up for pretty insignificant things in the grander picture of life. When, by God's grace, I have recognized those things, His love and power has helped me through. Prayer and perserverence have been my allies.

That God is in complete control and nothing can happen apart from His will.

Overcoming false beliefs requires a lot of personal reflection, prayer, encouragement, and effort. It takes time but when you can overcome those things and change your view it can really help you to see things in new ways.

In times of crisis, I try to hold onto the belief that God has a purpose for my life and that I just need to trust in Him with everything that I have. He knows what will happen next so I shouldn't worry.

Getting caught up in failures has held me back, but realizing that those are not the defining part of who I am but my relationship with Christ has helped me move past them.

The belief that this world cannot exist simply by accident, that there is a purpose for it, and that comes from God.

Naturally we’ll be most easily connected those those of similar beliefs but if we are open and accepting of differences then our beliefs can guide connections without be lost. If we always feel like everything has to be a fight or everything is essential then our beliefs will divide to the point of isolation.

I am connected to my community by my beliefs. We help each other grow in our walks with Christ but really in every aspect of our lives. I am better because of my community.

Trusting that God is working even when I can’t see him.

Recognizing and giving a name to what those things are so I can then talk about it and learn more in order to grow

My beliefs connect me to my community because I have friends in Young Life that I can connect to and I know will always be there for me.

My community is mainly Christian based. Together we have built bonds not only through spending time with each other but also through our shared beliefs. While we are in different places in our faith, we have the opportunity to walk alongside each other and to push each other into the full faith and love that God provides for us.

Thank you for opening up and sharing. That takes courage and is appreciated by others with similar struggles. You're on the right path, God's path for you.

God is faithful, even when I am not. Even if I let go, He never does.

Pray and trust God is always with me and knows best even if I can’t see how.

It is in crisis that we shut up enough to hear God. We stop talking in prayer and start listening and can hear Him most clearly.

My faith and beliefs have been a deep connection place for me in almost any meaningful relationship I have had in my life. It has been a transition since being in college, though, to have some of my beliefs be challenged and changed. I feel more tension when I am home, but faith is still an anchor.

Here at Messiah, faith and the common core belief in Jesus is one thing that connects us. Even different beliefs in a way start a discussion that deepens our community.

I’ve felt similar struggles of forgiveness and holding onto negative feelings towards people who hurt me and it took me a while to realize that anger just burns you from the inside out and leads to a cycle of negative feelings towards others yourself and the world. Eventually I realized gods love and forgiveness wasn’t just for me but all and it’s hard but we are called to love others as Christ loved us and that includes forgiveness

I hold onto the belief that everything happens for a reason

Believing everything is black and white in God’s eyes has kept me from really knowing him or experiencing his love, it’s impossibly to feel loved when you think you’re always messing up or disappointing Him, but He’s been showing me the He sees me differently.

There are few beliefs I am not willing to change. My faith in a loving God and his son who died for me and seeks after me is one I am not willing to change. Because that is firm, my lesser beliefs are free to be challenged and shaped. I like to play with them in a mental sandbox. If a new philosophy plays well with my understanding, I will allow it to become a part of my life. If it doesn’t, it dies in the sandbox

I don’t know.

They help me to see how essential community is. I see authentic Christian community as essential to living how God intends for us to.

When your community is based on location it's not grounded. And where there doesn't remain a stable foundation a build collapses.

I’ve always felt that my beliefs have connected me to communities because it’s given me a deep love for Gods people. I’ve also felt disconnected when I don’t want to follow the crowd because I see a bigger picture

I proved myself wrong.

I think I'm still working on that.

I sometimes forget where my true identity is in Christ and instead place it in whatever situation I'm currently in. When I realize this though I start to make progress

I watched my mom battle and then die from cancer a little over 2 years ago. In the crisis of that situation I had a choice to cling to Christ and let him comfort me in my mourning or to become bitter and broken.and I chose to follow and cling to him.

I hold onto the fact that God is good. Even if I do not feel it or see it, the phrase "God You are good" has been my battle cry through the darkest, hardest, most lonely times of my life.

When I am in a moment of crisis and change I try to put my trust in God. It’s not easy, but it is the right thing to do.

I have to hit a point where I need to let go of the voices in my head. Knowing that Gods peace is always available and things happen perfectly with his timing has saved me.

That God is big enough to help me accomplish he is calling me to do.

We enjoy being surrounded by people similar to us. The core foundation to who we are and how we operate as people is understandably a vulnerable aspect, and so we want to protect that by being surrounded by similar people. If we are not willing to be vulnerable and uncomfortable, we will stay in those echo chambers

I find my faith to be a unifying element of community in most cases here at Messiah, but that sometimes it can be presumed to be a dividing factor due to fear of judgement or judgement on both sides. I wonder what my community would look like with less fear and more graceful love.

In high school my beliefs definitely separated me from my community, but since coming to college I’ve learned that even within the same belief system there can be differing opinions and that’s perfectly fine. As I’ve grown I’ve realized different beliefs shouldn’t be something that separates us but something that brings us together as we seek to understand each other and ourselves through the process.

Right now I feel like my beliefs are different from most of the people closest in my life, maybe not vastly but in enough ways to feel a little isolated, like I don’t want to be completely honest with people.

Beliefs separate us sometimes but if you have love and respect for each other that can be overcome.

By letting go and allowing God to renew my heart.

Sometimes I think no one understands me or know what I am going through... so I just isolate myself and get bitter at people or my situation. However, when I remember that God understands, knows, and controls everything that happens in my life, I am able to overcome those negative thoughts and emotions I sometimes deal with

by doing what I believe I can't do

I always held onto the belief that God is good and He is faithful. That was my mantra. Lately I haven't been so secure in that belief. I realized last year that I was bisexual and in coming out to my parents and facing their reactions, I've felt very angry at God. That anger has morphed into apathy. I want to get back to that place of believing he is good and faithful but I don't know how.

Saying the truths of who I am out loud each day. Reaching out and helping others causes me to grow.

God loves me
God is good
I am made in His image
He delights in me
My relationship with Him is our ultimate goal

During crisis I have found myself holding onto to heaven and through crisis this has become an increasingly real concept.

I’ve overcome beliefs by figuring out if they were my own or if I believed them because someone told me to believe those things. I figured out what was true for myself and prayed that God would remove the things in my life that were holding me back.

I cling to the fact that regardless of what I do or where I go gods been through it all and is just waiting patiently for me to turn back to him.

My beliefs help me to connect with my community, because everyone I talk to is with me when it comes to faith. They're happy for me, and I am happy for them. We lift each other up, and help each other through thick and thin.

It’s hard. I think it’s a matter of prayer and being willing to allow God to create forgiveness in your heart. It’s a process.

Beliefs that I'm not good enough have often kept me from trying. Getting past that insecurity is a daily battle.

I feel most connected when surrounded by those who trust in the same God that I trust- that is my community.

Beliefs are a big connecting point for me when it comes to community. Even though I may be surrounded with friends and people all the time, my sense of community depends on if we share the same core beliefs.

Shared beliefs connect you to community. It is difficult to really be in community with people who believe differently, but we can look past those things to what really matters.

I can feel a gap with my friends that do not share my faith. They are close to me, but I desire to share the connection of Jesus.

It reminds me that I am never alone. Somewhere and somehow... someone is going through the same things I am going through or is willing to be with me during hard times

My beliefs make me feel like an outside when I am not in a christian environment but when I am other christians feel like family

I hold on to the fact that I know I am loved by Him. I look back on who I used to be and who I currently am and remember that he is real.

I think my beliefs separate me from my community because I want to live a life for God but I often find myself in communities where the belief of not the walk in Christ isn’t taken as seriously because we only have “this life”. It puts me in a tough position because I long for a community of Christ filled people, but only those who aren’t serious about their faith welcome me with open arms. It’s a weird complex.

I cling to my family and to God. Even when He seems distant, I know He is in control and everything will work for His glory.

For me, I've overcome some beliefs by just going and trying something I didnt think I could do. I believe that only those who are obedient believe and only those who believe are obedient. Faith and action go hand in hand, sometimes I just need to take that leap of faith and trust God will provide

With a support system that pushes me to grow and look past beliefs or lies that I tell myself. Lies that have been told to me.

Sometimes I can't figure out what I believe and it isolates me from others who have certain beliefs, but discussing with others can also help me to establish beliefs.

Beliefs have a huge impact on community—I believe that it is hard to sustain a community that does not have shared beliefs. If people in a community do not share the same beliefs, there is often separation.

I suppose the key to community is a common goal and love and belief. In my experiences, people do often get very hung up on the things that fall second to believing in Jesus.... and perhaps for good reason.

Prayer and accountability help to overcome beliefs that hold me back.

Especially in a case like hers, I think it’s important to remember not just that God loves us unconditionally, but that he also loves the people who have hurt us unconditionally. Its challenging, but important

By realizing those beliefs were steeped in falsely rooted anxiety and doubts about myself.

I am thank the Lord has been in my life since a child. I pray and talk with fiends.

I tell myself that I will get through it because I always have before

I hold onto the promises of God. I remind myself that He will always be there for me. Even when it feels like I am so alone, I know that I can count on Him. And I get it, it sounds so cliché, but it is a constant reminder that God is everlasting and all loving.

There are times where unforgiveness was like a poison to me and my family. But even once I began to “choose” to forgive, it was years before I saw the fruit of that choice. I still was angry, I still was hurt. In the end, it was God flipping that switch in my heart that said “yes they hurt you and yes that was wrong, but it’s ok because they can never fill that hurt you’re demanding of them. I can.”

And He did.

I have to let go of the idea that I can prevent bad things by my behavior alone. I have to remember that my life is in God's hands, and I have to have faith.

I try to hold on to knowing that I am enough even when in times of crisis. But that is usually never easy. Its always hard to hear or feel God’s presence during a crisis or difficult times.

Through surrender to God, I have been freed to love and be loved. He has helped me understand areas that I have held on to bitterness. I believe growth is about surrender!

I hold onto the belief that God is sovereign and loves me more than I know.

I hold on to God’s word when I am feeling anxious, depressed, worried, or tired of life

I hold on to the knowledge that God’s will is going to prevail above all.

There have been countless moments throughout my life that have hindered my growth as a man and as a man of God. Every single day there are struggles and battles that demons and satan throw at me, but it is how you respond with the ultimate call of God - by loving as He first loved us - is what is most important in my life.

I didn’t think I was allowed to question the Bible but through my spiritual leaders I have learned that asking questions and clarification of the lords teachings will bring me that much closer to god

My community is so diverse. So many members of my community hold different beliefs than me some of those beliefs which stand in direct contrast to my own. All I know is that Jesus broke bread with so many different kinds of people and I want to reflect that in my own life.

I struggle with thinking positively about myself. The negative thoughts come automatically. Now that I am aware that this is happening, I stop myself in the moment and try to look at myself the way God would.

I feel my beliefs both connect me to one community and separate me from another. For example, my work environment is not christian and neither is society in general. i act differently than people within these communities. However, in a christian community like Messiah and at church I am more closely connected to others because our our mutually shared beliefs

Having core beliefs in common allows for me to connect well with others, especially in the early stage of a relationship.

Beliefs unite my community by bringing people together in good and hard times.

I think beliefs, especially Christian beliefs, distinguish a person pretty significantly from those who don’t share them in some ways. However, Christian beliefs also increase community with people, especially those who aren’t Christian.

As a gay Christian I resonated with this because I'm more than familiar with the conflict that comes from these beliefs, as well as living closely with people I may not ways agree with. I rest easy, however, knowing there is a purpose for all of it.

My beliefs separate me from my community. The differences make it hard to even want to try and connect with them.

My core beliefs draw me closer to those people holding similar beliefs and strengthens our community. However, my beliefs also allow me to reach people with dissimilar views which also strengthens the community.

I hold on to the belief that at the end of the day and at the end of every sin driven mistake, that I make as a human, that my God is still a God of Love. And his love is unconditional. His love can cover my multitude of sins.

I think I hold on to my faith and family. These too things act as support systems when other things around me fall apart or leave my control.

I hold on to the one thing that does not change, God.

It can be extremely difficult having family members who believe very different things than I do. Being a Christian, it's hard to know that they are missing out on so much. However, they are my friends and family, and the fact that we still all love each other keeps us together.

A sense that things will be alright in the long run, even if they don’t seem so.

That there's always a purpose to suffering, no matter how unbearable it may seem.

Community is about what’s shared- not about differences. Differences help us learn and grow, but community connects us.

I appreciate being able to ask for advice from others who I know are ultimately looking to Jesus for their wisdom. It gives me a feeling of being able to trust them.

I can definitely resonate with Sara’s experience and feelings toward community in that there will always be community wherever you go. I also believe that there are seasons of life where communities change and intertwine, which makes this entire concept of community very intriguing and extremely beautiful.

I always thought I would be closest with my oldest friends but my college community brought me to to friends that I’m closer than I ever thought I would be

God is working of this. I still have a long way to go.

I have handed my bitterness to the Lord and he has replaced it with strength. I found guidance from other people who understood my situation.

Combatted them with truth & God’a promises.

Through challenging myself and recognizing my own potential.

Choosing to forgive. Recognizing Gods merct for me. Giving myself grace to grow as His work in progress...

I hold onto the belief that if God is in control, then truly everything will be ok. There have been a lot of times of depression and difficulty, and it’s so easy for me to say “nope not going to make it because I can’t.” If he’s not on his throne, then yeah I won’t make it, because I am weak. But if he is, then he’s going to bring me through. Has every time.

I have to constantly remind myself that I am loved. By God and by my family. God's love is everlasting. He will never leave nor forsake me.

I think for most of the time we are living as part of community but sometimes we are just more independent.

I hold to the truths of God’s promises. I hold to his grace for me that though I am a sinner and so far from where I want to be that He will continue to work in me AS I turn to Him.

That there is a difference between lies and truth and God can help me see that truth most clearly.

I hold onto the entire aspect and idea that God loves me unconditionally and that he has surrounded me with family and loved ones that love me. I also think upon the fact that God has large and major plans for my life, far above anything that is trying to hold me down.

Crisis, however difficult, is an opportunity to learn and grow.

I hang onto my parents in times of crisis

I try to show God's love to everyone and plant seeds of hope and truth

There are several variations in belief in my community, but we are connected in core values that bring us together. Being with different kinds of people teaches me grace.

I think that my belief in Jesus helps me to be in community with Christians all over the world.

My beliefs and longing for hope help me find comfort and belonging in a world where I might otherwise feel alienated.

As a military kid, I’ve found that my strongest friendships—the ones that thrive and live long beyond relocating—are the ones united by belief in Christ. Our beliefs don’t connect us—HE does.

It's easier to relate to others in community if there are shared beliefs.

I once spent an entire summer cutting myself off from all of my friends and family because of something that happened to me. The reason I overcame this time of deep struggle was my decision to both continue to attend church and allow friends to reach out and help me in my time of need.

By reminding myself of God’s truth

I have overcome my belief that I am my anxiety. But I have learned that my anxiety is just a part of me. It does not control me. It is not my identity. It is just something I live with.

I believed that I didn't matter. That I was more of a shadow than an actual person like everyone else. It was always difficult for me to believe that I could change anything but I'm learning differently now.

The knowledge that God is there even if I don't feel like he is.

That God is faithful, good, & kind—that He is not a God of waste. He doesn’t promise absence of pain, but He does promise His presence.

My value in who God says I am and His ultimate power

I hold onto the belief that I’m going to see the victory the Lord promised over my life.

Belief that things will get better. Eventually.

Community, family, is a difficult concept. I often feel like I'm in a liminal space - transitory, not fully bought in to American culture or Christianity. I don't believe in Jesus, though I grew up in the church. How do I now relate?

It's challenging to discuss one community as my own; there is Messiah College community, home community, church community, and my friend community outside of all of these. Soon there will also be a career community. My beliefs both separate and connect me to these varied communities.

My beliefs separate me from my community. The differences make it hard for me to even want to try to connect them.

My beliefs we're always started with my community but they never stopped there. I turn beliefs over in my mind again and again, too often for them not to be changed and worn by the time I move to a new community.

My beliefs have brought me closer to those around me. Being on a christian college campus and being surrounded by a lot of encouraging and loving people is amazing.

My community is with who I’m presently with not who I was with

My beliefs keep me separate from my immunity because I long to live in the world, but not of the world. It is a constant struggle learning how the two can coincide.

I have had to turn to other people and asked for their advice. I’ve had to reconcile with God my anger and my thoughts and let him take them.

When you stop seeing others a worse and stop judging and see yourself as just as bad as others you experience forgiveness and then can accept others as they are.

I have used my family, friends, and God to help me move forward in my struggles

Forcing yourself into situations that force you out of comfort zones and make you grow are the most effective in my experience.

In times of crisis it is often challenging for me to give it to God, but every time I do I find myself face down, kneeling and worshipping, crying my eyes out because he is the God of peace and hope.

I hold on to the thought of being alive. The thought that my life has so much meaning and potential and I am destined for so much more. I hold on to the fact that I do not need to be afraid, I know my story will not end here.

I hold onto my family and that they will always be there for me. But I let go of my dreams and ambitions, my plans for the future, my independence.

Even if no one else loves me, God does

That everyone is going through something different. We are all different and struggling

My beliefs are how I choose my community. My life and priorities are made up of being sure that I am connected to my Christian community. The way I live is to welcome others into this community. The community helps us grow deeper in our walks with Christ.

We all have this hope and this fists that God is the one who controls all things. We’ve had personal struggles for sure but what has always brought us back is this sense of belonging not only with each other and but also through Christ. Christ brought us together in the first place and that’s what holds the bonds of us together - what links our hearts together.

I think that my beliefs connect me with others but, they are also not a “make or break” standard that I hold my friends too. I know what I believe and am okay with not agreeing on everything.

I think community requires transparency. So it’s power is based on trust and experiences you’ve had that allow you to be transparent with others.

Community plays a crucial role in my life through all my hobbies and interests. Without the network of people, all of it would be meaningless.

Some of my old beliefs kept me from showing unconditional love to everyone, even those who didn’t like me or I was very different from. But, through God showing me through life experiences I have changed those beliefs to love others more.

I’m very introspective and contemplative; this can be a blessing sometimes but it has also made me my own worst enemy. Negative self image, fear of how others perceive me, distrust and fear of people, and all kinds of destructive thoughts used to rule me. Thank God for helping me to understand the concept of his grace and my worth. Learning to be vulnerable and acknowledging that I am loved have been key to overcoming this.

It often takes hearing the outward perspective of other people in order to know about myself - they see things about me that I can’t

I pushed forward and challenged those things I could see that were holding me back. It took a lot of effort but I pushed and pushed until it broke and I grew as a person

Remembering whose I am not who I am. It points me back to Christ and what he says about me. That’s all that really matters.

I hold onto my faith in Christ and that he will guide me and lead me through the struggles I am going through. While I do not always want to talk to him I know that he is always there.

In crisis especially internal crisis, you can easily think you’ve messed up in ways that can’t be overcome or corrected. That consequences set an irreversible path. External crisis can set a stronger foundation.

That God’s promises are true and He promises to never leave me. God is my hope no matter what happens. I cling to Him through prayer, worship, the Bible and community.

That there is hope through the pain. That God loves and cherished me no matter what and that he has a purpose for my life.

Because of my beliefs I have developed a wonderful community of other Christians at home and school.

Community is wherever you put yourself and community is what connects us all with meaningful people. When someone disagrees with my beliefs I try and see it as a different perspective worth respecting

As an artist and nerd, I find myself able to connect with people, even strangers, who have the same interests and outlook on life.

Believe in yourself, trust yourself. Trust God's plan.

They lead me to be drawn towards and quite honestly make me avoid others. Thinking about it I know it’s not right, but it is so much harder to be closer to people with different beliefs sometimes, you know?

By providing a common purpose and direction.

I avoid community when I feel I cannot measure up to those around me

In times of crisis, sometimes God is the one I hold on to, or the one I start to let go of. Luckily it’s usually the former and when it isn’t I realize I can only get through the crisis with God.

How people interpret the Bible.

In one of the hardest periods of my life I tried to hold on to God. I tried so hard to fix what I thought I lost and when it fell apart I got so angry at Him. I wanted to run away, but couldn't. So I just moved to just out of reach

I hold onto that the world, the future, and my life extends far beyond the limits of my current crisis- at least I try to.

I hold on to or let go of the belief that I belong in the world

I hold onto the Bible and God’s promises.

God hears and sees me, even when it feels like no one else does.

I may not agree with you on everything, but that does not mean I don't respect you. Community means togetherness and accepting rhose, even if we don't agree on everything.

No matter how far apart we may be, our hearts will always be connected.

I used to be super one sided politically, and I was against anyone that believed in the other side. Recently, through conversation and natural maturity I have started to question why I believe the things I did, and seeing things from other perspectives.

It was hard for me in the past to forgive people who have hurt me, it’s something that many people struggle with and I know how she feels

I trust my faith. Things will work out for the best. Don't dwell on the negatives. Embrace the good times. Respect one another.

my beliefs connect me to every community I’m in because I just try to be the person God created me to be and glorify him in every community and situation I’m involved in.

Finding people who appreciated me for who I was and talked with me. Reading books and scripture

A belief to overcome is the belief that everyone in my life is constantly annoyed by me or angry at me. It is a process, but prayer and communication have helped me on the journey. The best people in my life have shown me that this is not true.

I’m from a pretty rural area, so most people I live around share the same beliefs, however, not everyone shares these beliefs. I came into contact with different beliefs in high school, but at the end of the day, I didn’t have any problems with anybody, and they didn’t have any problems with me.

My self-limiting beliefs relate to academics. I always thought I am so stupid and that everyone was better than me. But through constant prayer and hard work ive found where I fit in.

I have always struggled with not having all of the answers and that makes me doubt God at times. I really try to have faith and believe instead of seeing.

not all of my community believes in Christ but we all still have similarities that connect us, whether it’s hobbies or anything really

Here at Messiah, I’m automatically a brother or sister with most people.

Oftentimes my circle has the same beliefs as me.

One belief I had was that everyone works out of their own self interest. I had thought that all people are selfish when really there are good hearted people out there who do want to do good simply because they want to.

When I think about the future and question whether or not I will be good enough to support a family or be a good person, I pray to God to remind myself that he is in control of the future.

I hold onto the belief that I am capable of doing good in this world, and that shouldn't be wasted.

There’s more ahead than this moment, God is shaping me even if the enemy is working too.

I believe that God is always looking out for us and even if something is out of my control, I just need to keep trusting in him.

God and family.

Have lots of friends and keep my home open for others. But know I don’t agree with everyone

I let go of hope

I have struggled in going to a secular high school where most did not have the same beliefs as me and then coming to a Christian school to find people that share my values. God has lead me through those times, however and made me feel safe in him, even when I wasn’t sure what I believed.

I am surrounded by a community of Christians that hold true the shared belief of Jesus' triumph. But the heated political beliefs and those about social justice separate me from those I used to trust the most.

Most of my friends back home are not Christians so when young, I always felt awkward if there was some religious view directed toward me.

Gods promise of having a plan for me and bring always there and always knowing. Having peace now and Looking forward to the peace of heaven

My varying communities are separate from one another as I have many different interests, yet my identity and beliefs pull them together. My foundational values of Justice and dignity of life are key aspects of my involvement in the social work community and deaf community

God’s promises. Knowledge of God all knowing and having a plan for me. Looking forward to Peace in heaven

That there are people in life who truly love and care for me and want me to succeed

I hold onto the believe that I am supposed to be here and that God has a plan for me. I am not worthless and people do love me even though it’s difficult for me to believe that sometimes.

I let go of the belief that God requires or wants perfection. Let go of the belief that God's love is earned. Hold onto the belief that He is always there and His love is eternal and unconditional.

I hold onto the belief that God is faithful in all circumstances. When life around me is changing, God is a constant in my life.

To overcome beliefs that hold me back, I return to the source of all truth, Jesus Christ. The promises in His Word help sustain me and help me to overcome those beliefs that hold me back.

Much of what limits me is fear, fear of failure. Those close to me have helped me grow. As we all grow together I am encouraged to let go of those fears.

I told myself that I was not as weak as I believed. I am loved and supported. I won't let myself get discouraged anymore. Fear does not have the right to hold me back from reaching my full potential.

By realizing that these beliefs we have are attached to us and are supposed to mold us

Prayer and community.

I became open to a new vision of myself and others.

I found talking to people specifically my pastor or friends have helped me overcome previous negative beliefs

I used to believe very differently than I used to, but getting to know people from different walks of life has granted me a more diverse and open worldview.

It’s always personal connections that help me grow!

Because of my Christian beliefs, I am so thankful that I can experience community anywhere I meet fellow Christians. It's a community that's not dependent on age, race, gender, or location.

The wonder of modern technology has allowed anyone to instantly keep in touch with friends and loved ones. The community I dwell in is not limited to location.

My beliefs have helped to show me the toxic people in my life that I needed to let go of in order to have my heart open towards a community of those who treat and love me in the way God intends us to.

My beliefs connect me to my family and close friends. I love sharing about how God has changed my life and why I believe what I believe. My beliefs connect me to people here at Messiah too. We share common values and I really appreciate that. Some of my best memories have been conversations I had with friends and I can't wait to further build my community.

I think that common beliefs are something that definitely can bring people together into a community, just as a similar interest in music or sports can, but having community with someone that doesn't necessarily share the same belief as you can be just as beneficial. For me personally, I have learned to agree to disagree with people or just not let it become an issue in the first place.

I don’t feel like I need to agree with people to be heir friends. I think if I can show them he live of Christ instead of just telling them, I can impact them as a true member of the community.

I often feel separate from others, as I realize that there are many differences between my beliefs and those in my community, but I look for common ground.

At a college like messiah, the community we share is one of christ and his love for us. Back home many of my friends are not Christian's but we still get together because of our personalities and not letting that get in the way.

I find that my community is one that pushes my beliefs to be grown and learn more in. They bring new perspectives yet we cherish in those that we share.

I think beliefs are really important to community. My most closest community shares similar beliefs to me but is willing to talk about differences as well.

My beliefs connect me to my community when I find like-minded people who share my beliefs no matter the location.

I think I like to be surrounded by people who challenge me and challenge the things I believe in order to help me grow.

My belief connects me to my community because, no matter the distance, I can share life with the people I have know for a long time.

Personally, I hold onto the belief that God has put my crisis experiences in my life to teach me a lesson and shape my character for the better.

I hold on to the belief that there is good in the world, that God will ensure everything works out according his will.

I strongly hold onto the truth that God is faithful. No matter what I do or which way I turn, He is faithful through everything.

I cling to old ideas and beliefs around how God blesses.

I hold onto my belief that God did not get me to a certain point or crisis just to leave me in it. I let go of the belief that God forgotten me in my time of crisis

I’ve always held onto the knowledge that God loves me perfectly even when I don’t see it. Even if things are tough and I doubt myself and am burdened by everything around I know that God is still loving me.

I often cling to the constants in life I’ve been blessed with. Family, friends, God. I have hope that I can always hold on to.

I hold onto the belief that everything is not for not; there is a purpose for this life and I can’t shy away from that. Even though crumpling away from fear is easier, standing up to it is always worth it.

Let go of being not enough for people

That Christ will guide me through no matter what, I know this because he has always done that for me even when I did not know he was there.

Letting my patience go. It's hard to hold my values and character when undergoing stress or difficult times.

I hold onto the belief that God has a good plan for my life. He is good and He loves me. I am safe when I trust God.

I truly believe that my life plan is know by God and that he has a good plan for me. I always remember that when I am stressed and worried about the future.

I think for me it’s easy to hold onto the idea that I’m alone. Like I feel like there is no one else I can lean on when stuff gets difficult.

There are times when I lost hope because of the situation I was in

I hold onto the belief that God knows what my story is and has a good plan.