A few weeks ago, I decided to add running to my exercise regimen. There’s a small lake nearby with a paved trail that’s nearly 2 miles around it. Now, I’m not really much of a runner. It’s not my gig, but change is good!!
As I made my way around the lake a few times, I came upon a group of kiddos riding their bikes. There were 5-7 elementary aged boys and girls. We met on a small incline. As I watched them conquer this rise in the pavement, there was one little girl who was struggling terribly. I could see it in her face. She looked defeated. At that moment, I began to verbally encourage her. “You’ve got this, sweetie … keep going … you doing great!” Almost instantly, she looked up and responded to my encouragement. A smile came to her face and she made it up that incline. All she needed was someone to not just notice that she was struggling, but to take, literally, a few seconds and be an encourager to her “dilemma” in that moment.
I instantly thanked God for putting me on that trail that day. I had been having a rough time, myself, and just being able to help someone does wonders for the soul. In that moment, I knew I would share this story.
You see how often as we go through our everyday life, do we have the opportunity to be an encourager to someone? My guess is that it’s more often than we even realize. I could have paid the kiddos no attention and continued on my way. But, I believe that the Lord led me to not only see the little girl, but to speak encouragement to her. That’s my goal in life; to be aware, by the leading of the Holy Spirit, of others around me who need encouraging. I want to be the best encourager to as many people as I can possibly be. You may wonder why this is important to me. Well, I have had a pretty challenging life. Not, that we all don’t have challenges in our lives, because, of course, we all do. But, some of us have more challenges than others. And, without a doubt in my mind, knowing that my life has had an extra heaping of challenges, I know that I don’t have to look very far to find someone who has had many more challenges than myself. So, I don’t claim to have the market on challenges. But, I do believe that I see myself with realistic eyes … because of the the wisdom that God, and God alone, has given me. So, with all that said, I assure you that I know just how important it is to receive encouragement. And, I also know just how difficult it is to receive NO encouragement.
I’d like to shift gears here and point out that if you consider yourself a follower of Christ, you are in a unique position to encourage others with your words. It’s extremely important that we make a conscious choice to do this. I want you to give some thought to Jesus for just a minute. He gave up Heaven to come to earth to live as a human so that He could relate to our challenges. John 3:13, John 6:33, 38 He died on the cross for our many, MANY sins, rose from the dead, and is now in Heaven at the right hand of our Heavenly Father praying for us … constantly. He’s praying for us and encouraging us. I believe He saw that little girl struggling, knew that I would cross her path, and, by the Holy Spirit, laid it on my heart to encourage her, effectively giving her the encouraging nudge that she needed in that moment for what may have been a big breakthrough for her. What may seem like a minuscule breakthrough for us may be a huge breakthrough for someone else. It’s not our job to decide whether or not someone needs or deserves encouragement. It’s our job to encourage others. Encouraging us … praying for us … is what Jesus is doing for us. And, I assure you, from my own experiences, it’s not because we deserve it. As a follower of Christ, our goal is to be more like Jesus every day.
So, I ask you: “Are you encouraging others in your world the way God is encouraging you?” It’s important that we do encourage others in this walk of life. As you encourage others, you’re effectively sowing encouragement into your own life. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6: &-10 That pretty much sums up what I’m attempting to convey in this blog. God wants what is best for us. Jeremiah 29:11 He doesn’t want to hurt or harm us. He is ever unceasingly praying for and encouraging us. We should do the same for others. When you have the notion to encourage or help someone else, know that that thought is from God because He is good. We don’t naturally want to do good on our own because of our flesh and sin nature. That goodness comes from above. And, it’s to our benefit, as well as the benefit of the one(s) we’re encouraging/helping to follow through with that thought.
I encourage you to keep your eyes and ears open for folks around you who may need encouragement or help. Lord, I pray right now for all who are reading this that you remove the scales from our eyes and unclog our ears that we may see what You want us to see and hear what you want us to hear. I pray that when we see or hear a need, we will respond the way You would want us to respond as obedient children. Lord, I thank you in advance for opportunities and for the breakthroughs that will ensue due to our walking out Your plan for our lives. Thank You Father, in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen!
