No islands in church.

None of us are super-spiritual.
Not all of the time.
Not even our heroes [except Jesus of course] or leaders (which is why we earnestly pray for them!)

There are times when we will feel on top of the mountain, and then times when it feels like the mountain is on top of us. One of David Crowder’s songs describes it like this: “Sometimes You're further than the moon, Sometimes You're closer than my skin.”
Does that sound like one of your days?
Sure sounds like mine.

But we are never alone, in fact Jesus’ name ‘Immanuel’ is a promise to this effect in itself! David also wrote a song about the truth of this, he was confident that even though he may find himself at death’s door, he was not abandoned by his God.
Sometimes God’s presence in our lives takes the form of brother or sister in Christ. After all we are all part of Christ’s body, the church. God requires us to be there for each other.

Then Eliphaz from Teman spoke up: "Would you mind if I said something to you [Job]? Under the circumstances it's hard to keep quiet. You yourself have done this plenty of times, spoken words that clarify, encouraged those who were about to quit. Your words have put stumbling people on their feet, put fresh hope in people about to collapse. But now you're the one in trouble--you're hurting! You've been hit hard and you're reeling from the blow. But shouldn't your devout life give you confidence now? Shouldn't your exemplary life give you hope?
"Think! Has a truly innocent person ever ended up on the scrap heap? Do genuinely upright people ever lose out in the end?” Job 4:1-7 (The Message)

As a family of believers we are called to stand along side one another, keep and eye out for one another and stick up for one another. We are called to love one another and that means speaking a word of encouragement or direction into someone’s life, not being intimidated by their age or maturity in faith.

Lord, help me never to ignore a struggling friend. Help me to be obedient when You call me to be Your comfort. Amen.