GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT

“And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him and did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.” (Acts 9:26-28)

Who could have known that a man as strong and as purposeful as Saul of Tarsus would need encouragement one day? He was one man that believed in his cause; in fact, he pursued it with reckless abandon. At some point in his life, he killed and maimed many in pursuit of what he thought was a great cause. Little did he know that he was on the wrong path. And I believe one mark of a great man is the ability to admit mistakes and change direction, when necessary
And that was what happened to Saul. He recognized at a point in his life that he was wrong in spite of the fervency with which he pursued his goal; he made a U-turn. Now that he had left the shadows of yesterday, he was having a problem arriving at the shores of tomorrow. The people he had faithfully served wanted his head while those he was seeking a relationship with refused to have anything to do with him. At this point, the erstwhile strong man needed encouragement. But no one could give him what he needed most at that point except a man whom the apostles had named Barnabas, which is translated Son of Encouragement. 

Pondering over the word encouragement, I picked up the dictionary to look up its meaning.  It means ‘to spur on or to give help to someone.’ One person said that encouragement is helping someone to be better even when life is rough.

Someone else said that encouragement is one’s ability to lift another person’s shoulders. To spark the flicker of a smile on the face of a discouraged child. To breathe fresh fire into the fading embers of a smoldering dream. To actually change the course of another man’s day, week or life.

And that was exactly what King David did to Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson who was lame. The prince had fallen on bad times, but when he was brought before the king, David’s words to him were: “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually” (2 Samuel 9:7). Soothing words, indeed, for a man who thought of himself as ‘a dead dog’ (v.10).

Now, as important as encouragement is, its value is often missed because in the main it tends to be private rather than public. In fact, most people who need encouragement need it when they feel most alone.

But do you know that the surest way to get encouraged is to encourage someone else? Jesus said, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). An adage says, “One good turn deserves another.” In the words of the late Norman Vincent Peale, “When you encourage others, you fill your own heart with courage.”

Jesus lived his entire life encouraging people: the rejected, the dejected, the downtrodden and outcasts. In response to the criticisms of the Pharisees, He said in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 9, verse 12, “Those who are well have no need of a physician.” Jesus’ main purpose on earth was to lift up those who were down.

According to Oswald J. Sanders, if only we are discerning enough, we will realize that we are daily surrounded by lonely, aching and sometimes broken hearts. Just one word spoken at the right time can bring sunshine into someone’s hopeless situation. You can be the Barnabas who is always drawn to people he can encourage, and is a great help to those around him.

Rich Devos is one man whose life was touched fundamentally by a word of encouragement. He is the chairman and co-founder of Amway Corporation, and the president of a successful, professional basketball team, the Orlando Magic. Devos says, “One of the greatest things you can give to another person is the gift of encouragement. It is a gift with starting power and staying power.”

Sometime in his childhood days, Devos was touched by this gift of encouragement. In his words: “When I was struggling to find my way as a high school senior, my Bible teacher sent me to a life of significance just by writing a few words in my year book, ‘With talents for leadership in God’s kingdom.’

“The power of those seven words shook me. They jumped off the page and into my soul. They encouraged me to believe that God had a plan and gifts for me. That note was written to me more than a half-century ago but it remains fresh today. With those words echoing in my ears I became determined to make a difference in life.”

Words are powerful. One cannot over-emphasize the effect of words on people’s lives. They have the power to affect deeply. According to Tom Peter, “We wildly underestimate the power of the tiniest personal touch.”

Are you discouraged? Even in that state, do you know you are the key to someone’s encouragement? You may be feeling abandoned and ostracized to the valley where the sun seldom shines and others seldom care. You may have been acquainted with disappointments, broken dreams and disillusionment. Crises may be your closest companion right now. Cheer up. There is hope around the corner.

The truth is there are many people around you looking up to you for encouragement. You can come out of the doldrums of despondency by lifting someone up. You can touch someone today. You can make the more noble choice of encouraging others instead of just sitting in limbo, waiting to be encouraged. Just a word from you can brighten another man’s day.

No matter what your situation is today, be encouraged! You cannot and will not fail in Jesus name. You are valuable. Someone said, “The light at the end of the tunnel is the headlamp of an oncoming train.” The Lord God can and will lift you up. No pit is so deep that He is not deeper still. No valley so dark that the light of His truth cannot penetrate. Be encouraged, because there is coming a turnaround in that situation.

Remember, someone out there needs your encouragement. Give it; it will come back to you amplified. The Bible says Job’s restoration came when he prayed for his friends. Your own restoration will come as you help someone up today, in Jesus name.

Confession

I am endowed with the spirit of encouragement.

I am an encourager.

As I lift up other people’s spirits, I get encouraged in life.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen.