The Encourager

Part of my job description involves encouraging the group leaders and the volunteers that I supervise. So I regularly send out emails and cards to let them know how great they are and how much they are appreciated.

Other encouragements are an important part of my life. Every day, I try to encourage my son and once a week I call my sister to encourage her as she lives with our “memory-challenged” mother. Every couple of weeks, I call my brother to encourage him in the daily stresses of life. Several of the people on my prayer list need encouragement, so I try to be there for them. Last week, I met with a beginning writer and encouraged her in her pursuit of the dream of publication.

But the other night, I hit the wall and wondered, who will encourage me?

As I cried out to the Lord, he answered with Isaiah 41. He reminded me that each of us encourages the other. Neighbors encourage brothers. The craftsman encourages the smelter and he who smooths metal encourages the blacksmith. We lift each other up by kind words and actions – by praying for each other in the dark corners of life.

Encouragement is such an important task in these last days. We all need to be encouraged. But the One we can always count on is the Lord Himself. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isa. 41:10).

Then God repeats Himself. Whenever God repeats a message, we need to listen. “Do not fear…I will help you…your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel” (vs. 14). “I will not forsake you. I, the Lord, will answer” (vs. 17).

Do not fear. Do not be discouraged. The Almighty One holds your hand and upholds you. He encourages you. He is with you. He prays for you.

He is the One who nudges me to encourage others and when I hit the wall, He is the One who lovingly picks me up and holds me close.

If you’re hitting the wall today, let Him hold you.