Have you ever noticed how emotions don’t stay the same size when they’re brought into community? Joy has this amazing ability to expand. When you share good news with a friend, it becomes bigger. Their smile, their laughter, their celebration with you—it all multiplies the joy. Think about the difference between eating cake alone at midnight and eating cake at a birthday party with friends. Same cake, but multiplied joy.
The same is true with sorrow, only in reverse. When grief, pain, or struggle is carried alone, it can feel unbearable. But when it’s shared with someone else—when another person enters in with compassion, a listening ear, or just their presence—it lightens the load. The sorrow doesn’t disappear, but it’s divided. Instead of one person carrying the full weight, it’s spread across hearts that care.
This is exactly why God designed the church to be more than a Sunday event. Paul says in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” We were never meant to celebrate victories in isolation or to walk through valleys alone. That’s why being a Hopester matters. It’s a commitment to multiply each other’s joys and divide each other’s sorrows.
So here’s my encouragement for you this week: don’t hold it in. If you’ve got something worth celebrating, share it! Let someone else multiply your joy. And if you’re hurting, don’t carry it alone. Invite someone in. Let the body of Christ do what it was designed to do—rejoice and weep together.
Because in God’s kingdom, joy grows bigger when shared, and sorrow gets lighter when carried together.
Peace,
Nick
The same is true with sorrow, only in reverse. When grief, pain, or struggle is carried alone, it can feel unbearable. But when it’s shared with someone else—when another person enters in with compassion, a listening ear, or just their presence—it lightens the load. The sorrow doesn’t disappear, but it’s divided. Instead of one person carrying the full weight, it’s spread across hearts that care.
This is exactly why God designed the church to be more than a Sunday event. Paul says in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” We were never meant to celebrate victories in isolation or to walk through valleys alone. That’s why being a Hopester matters. It’s a commitment to multiply each other’s joys and divide each other’s sorrows.
So here’s my encouragement for you this week: don’t hold it in. If you’ve got something worth celebrating, share it! Let someone else multiply your joy. And if you’re hurting, don’t carry it alone. Invite someone in. Let the body of Christ do what it was designed to do—rejoice and weep together.
Because in God’s kingdom, joy grows bigger when shared, and sorrow gets lighter when carried together.
Peace,
Nick