Encourage One Another

Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. - 1 Peter 5:10

A few years ago, in the wake of another mass shooting, I was reminded of how each of us is surrounded by people who need encouragement. A kind word or loving touch may be all a person needs to turn their life around. Was the shooter a monster? No, he was a kid. He was sick. He was depraved and had he not taken his own life, he would have certainly been punished (even put to death) for his crimes. So often in the aftermath of such events, we look for answers, we try to come up with something that can be used as a "reason," but ultimately we are left with nothing more than, "We'll never know." Could he have been stopped? Why did he do such a thing? What led him to feel so desperate and to take such evil action? Everyone rushes to answer these questions, but in the end all we know is that the perpetrators leave behind a lot of grief and suffering.

As a pastor, I have often struggled to find the proper words of comfort for those who are suffering.  In my heart, I want to promise relief, but know too often that words are not enough. I want to be able to say that it will all end soon, but when you are the one who is suffering, how soon is soon enough? I often pray (even for some now), that the Spirit of God who authored Scripture would write His own assurances and truth upon their hearts. Ultimately, I have learned that He has, and that so often He also will.

Encourage someone today, for practically everyone is hurting, and if not today, then perhaps tomorrow for then you might just be the one who needs it most.

Note how good you feel after you have encouraged someone else.  No other argument is necessary to suggest that one never miss the opportunity to give encouragement. - George M. Adams