Encourage One Another: Your Obedience May Be Someone's Answer
Philippians 4:12-14
[12] I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. [13] For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. [14] Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
Yesterday I was blessed, and it was so unexpected that it really caused me to stop everything and think about it. What was so awesome about it was the timing and how perfect the words were to read at that moment.
Growing weary in this life is a reality, and I know the Lord understands that. He commands us to encourage one another and build one another up daily. Not because everything is going to be okay and great, but because life is difficult and painful and feels like too much at times. It gets the best of all of us, and our Heavenly Father has a system in place with brothers who are supposed to catch this and activate the support system. It is a beautiful thing when it works according to plan.
Yesterday morning, after helping my daughter with her schoolwork, I had bad thoughts start attacking my joy. Thoughts about my purpose, my life, health, and a few other things. I did my best to combat them, but they were pretty overwhelming. Honestly, the reason they hurt so much is that in my weakness, I can see some truth in them. Partial truth—the enemy's typical tactic.
That's when I noticed I had a text from a friend I hadn't heard from in a while. Out of the blue, my brother's faithfulness to the Lord's leading encouraged me. He encouraged me by saying that my testimony, walk, and faithfulness are a light in the darkness, and then shared that the Lord was speaking John 1:5 over me.
That was just what I needed, and it blessed me more than I can put into words. I know this man is busy, and it took a lot for him to stop and be obedient. I want to say that I was blessed beyond all measure because of his obedience. Thank you, Father, for my brother's faithfulness.
I also had the pleasure of meeting with another brother later that day, and one of the first things he mentioned was how he noticed I was a little off on Sunday. That was a blessing to me. This brother knew me well enough to see that I was off, then wanted to check on me and see if everything was okay.
I feel like that is basically what living out the command to encourage one another and build one another up looks like. I am blessed with godly brothers in my life and thankful beyond words. On a tough day, my Heavenly Father took time to encourage me and lift me up through my brothers. I'm in awe of my Father's love and grace.
I felt led to share this so that it might encourage you to send that text, call someone, or, if someone seems off, check on them. Even if they are fine, the love you show through that simple act will build them up. You never know when your obedience to reach out might be exactly what someone has been praying for.
Thank you, Father, for one more day. Amen
Hebrews 10:23-25
[23] Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. [24] Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. [25] And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
