Pearls of Great Value

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Th. 5:11 ESV

Going through tough times is, well, it’s tough. Its a struggle sometimes to put one foot in front of the other. Walking through grief...is a whole new battle. There are days when you feel lost in a place that is familiar. There are moments where home is all but comforting. There are times when you might be surrounded by people but still feel completely alone. It’s tough and yes, it’s a battle. Time marches on, away from the place of loss, in spite of how much you want to hold on. And grief has a sneaky way of attacking, I’ve learned. It has no sense of fairness. It has no problem hitting you at the most inopportune time. The really stinky part is that there is an enemy lurking in the shadows of it all. And he has no problem kicking you when you’re down. Trying his best to make sure you stay down. Darkness lurks in the corners, searching for an opening wherein it may converge and make no mistake, it isn’t your friend. It comes only to drag you down into destruction. You quickly discover that the only way through this mire is by standing your ground. It might be small, it might seem unstable at times, but you strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees and stand. You stand on which you know to be true. You stand on the promises in Gods word that He’s given to you. Lest you fall and perish, you stand. 

 Am I talking from experience? Yes, I am. I’ve found myself in places I never thought to be in.  But through it all, though sometimes hard to see, I’ve never been forsaken. I found myself curled up at heavens door one day. Just saying, it’s all I could do to come to the door step, Jesus take it from here.” And He did. I found that amazing grace still flows. Opens the door. Takes you in and pours out comfort. Holding you until there’s a courage within to lift up your head. You learn that when pain is deepest, love is deeper still. You learn that tears don’t scare Him away but bring Him closer. You learn that one step, only one step taken towards Him, leads to a thousand upwards. Calling on His name makes the shadows fade and brings a ray of sun and then more burst through as you stay. In His presence there is peace, and praise God, also the conviction to keep moving forward.

 Then came the day when I heard the Lord nudge me to reach out to others, “Why don’t you try encouraging others?” And I just felt, huh? I need encouragement myself, Lord! How can I give it to other people? I’m a bit of a mess here!” I think He must have smiled at my response, because, doesn’t he like doing the impossible? This quote I had read somewhere then popped into my head: God can turn your mess into a message. What was I to say? But, okay. Okay. I’ll try.

  Do you know what I discovered? Like everything else, the kingdom of God works in a different upside-down-kinda way, and wouldn’t you know, encouraging others actually encourages you. Praying for others pours benefits on you as well. By helping a neighbor in need, we plant for ourselves seeds of help in return. By giving, you don’t decrease but you receive more so that you are able to bless more. When your take time for others, somehow you find that at the end of the day you didn’t run out of time but instead there’s still some left over. It’s amazing how alive and blessed this kingdom is! How vibrant! There is nothing on earth that can hold back its strength, its goodness, its joy. It is triumphant, it is victorious, it’s so full of life! 

 Encouragement strengthens the weak. It brings support to the fatigued. It lifts the eyes up to see a better tomorrow. To see a new way. Just a few words can change the atmosphere and bring in a whole lot of sunshine. Encouragement says, you can do it! You are not alone for all of heaven is on your side. Encouragement smiles and with a gentle touch brings hope into a weary heart. On wings of love it comes and wraps itself around the soul and breathes new life. It impels one to turn forward and persuades to go the distance. 

 I love that the word “courage” is in encouragement. Cause that is exactly what it does. Encouragement brings the spirit of courage with it, and imparts it to the hearer. Paul calls it a gift: For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Rom. 1:11–12 ESV. Can we pray for this longing? 

 Lord, bring upon us the longing to impart to others a word of encouragement. Let us see that we carry a spiritual gift. That we are able to strengthen others! Let us have the courage to reach out and share of our faith. May we declare your goodness to the people, your grace to the nations. All around us there are people in need of good news, in need of an encouraging word! Bless our eyes to see and our ears to hear when You nudge us to move and speak! I pray for us to know that no spirit of fear will hold us back for we are children of the living God. Your love, Lord, it lights the way for us to move in confidence. Your word promises that we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! We will see it! Bless our eyes with this vision until we are moved into action. Let us be vessels of encouragement, I pray this in Jesus name, Amen.