Ridgell's Originals

I just don't get the people who think they do not need church. Maybe they think they will never need anyone's help to survive spiritually. Maybe they believe that they have absolutely nothing of value to offer anyone else. But I believe church is community and we need each other. And I am 100% convinced the most important time of need is when tough times come.

When the pain seems overwhelming, when you have no idea what to do next, when it seems nothing will ever be right in your world again... that is when you need community. But not for the reason we sometimes think. Most of the time we speak in terms of people to hug us, pray for us, and give us spiritual advice and counsel. And those things are important.

But sometimes we need to see someone who has lived thru the same pain... and was healed. They may cry with you because they understand more than anyone else what you are going thru. They may hug in a deeper way because they have been there. They may give wonderful advice and guidance that they learned by living the same experience you are in.

Or it may be the best thing they do is give a living example that you will get thru it, that God does redeem and restore, that healing is possible. Living proof of God's work.

I often tell people that the best thing Marsha and I do for wounded couples is to have them look at us. We are happy and healthy. I tell people in spiritual battles that if God can make me a preacher and an elder, then imagine what he can do with them. Living proof.

So I love people who re-live their pain to help others. I love couples who remember the hard times in their life in order to help someone else rebuild a marriage.

I love people who re-visit the pain of losing a spouse, a child, or a parent in order to help someone else thru that journey.

I love recovered addicts who recall the life they now hate in order to give hope to someone else.

I love cancer survivors who go back to the hospital to sit with someone going thru chemo.

So we have to share our stories, our healings, our recoveries. You need it. You may need to share it.

That's what community is -- being willing to remember my pain to help you get thru yours. Helping and being helped.

After all, isn't that what Jesus did for us. The difference is that he saw the pain before it happened and lived thru it so I could be healed.

So share your story. Someone in your community of faith needs you.