Choose Encouragement

I’m sure we’ve all experienced Christianese or other trite encouraging sayings. When you’re feeling sad and down, the last thing that you want to hear is an overused and seemingly meaningless quote. It can be annoying because we probably know all of them already. We can get aggravated more at the person for being “fake” and insensitive. But why is this??

Now I’ve not been too keen on friendships, and when people are less than chipper I tend to get weirded out as some of you can agree. Sounds funny I know and I’ve been realizing this more and more, but am grateful for the recent situations that provided this self-reflexive learning experience – how’s that for optimism? (still learning; pray for me). Anyways, so last week a buddy of mine was down and the phone conversation was depressing me by the seconds. I knew the “right” things to say to encourage her and try to cheer her up, but I digressed into shutting up and saying I won’t bore you by saying what you already know or heard me say before..we even chuckled about it after.

On the one hand, a shut mouth and open ear was probably the best thing at that particular moment, but after when it was time for me to speak I froze. Yikes not cool. And on my way to work the next morning the Holy Spirit began to tug on my heart. I thought about why I froze, how the enemy was rejoicing when I shut up instead of encourage her, and why this bothered me. If we are transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2) why do we allow ourselves to be duped into focusing on the person or other things than the encouragement they actually speak?? In the Bible emphasis is also noted through repetition. For example, “My soul waits for the Lord, more than the watchmen wait for the morning, (and again) more than the watchmen wait for the morning” (Psalm 130:6). Another reason to do it over and over – emphasis. We should instead be loading up on the Word as often as possible and as a result be transformed!!

You already know most encouragement I’m sure but that’s head know. We have to move from head know to heart know. Every time you hear it over and again and begin to meditate on it you become transformed! So don’t knock the carrier, hear the words. Focus and concentrate on them only. Give encouragement also, don’t be afraid or nervous because they’ve probably heard it before. Continue to speak life – and over and over again!!

So I’ll start with you, “God is for you, not against you. You are His beloved. You are victorious through Christ. You are blessed beyond measure because your daddy owns the cattle on a thousand hills. You shall not lack. You are not forgotten. He has a plan for you and it is good! You are the first and not the last and above only. You are not defeated but are more than a conqueror. Whatever you’re going through, you are going through. How great is His love for you…” Be encouraged, love you.

…Free fall: Ready, set, go!