Philippians 4:14-23

Philippians 4:14-23 
English Standard Version (ESV)

  Having kids, it's always interesting what happens when something breaks, especially when it's obvious that one of the kids is very definitely guilty.  The other often subtly (or not very subtly) moves away from the mess, distancing themselves from the mess and any association with it, while the guilty child often does whatever they can to implicate anything and everything to spread the guilt around.  No one wants to share trouble.
 
  If you've been through challenging times, you know there are often two groups of people -- those who reach out to you afterwards and see how you're doing, and those who are with you in the thick of it, helping you endure every step of the way.  That second group of people, the ones who aren't afraid of whatever mess we have in our lives, the ones who are willing to step into our lives and share our trouble -- those people stand out in our minds.  We appreciate them, and we don't forget that sacrifice.

  The church should be a place where trouble is shared.  That's exactly what Jesus does -- he steps into the world, takes on humanity and shares our trouble, taking on our sin so that we might be healed.  Our mission is the same -- to go into the world and share the troubles of others, so that no one feels alone or forsaken, lost in a turbulent sea.  We point to the light, to the beacon of hope in the darkness of night.  We trust in the God who has riches of glory, and we spread that wealth, so that the church is seen both as a place of encouragement and a place where troubles can be shared, not hidden.  No one should have to hide their pain in the church, and the church can come alongside those who are hurting and listen together as God pronounces hope over the hurt.