Life can be difficult. Agreed?
My congregation and I have been studying the Book of Hebrews since January of 2023. Yes, you read that correctly; we began the longest series in the history of my church over three years ago. It’s been an amazing and enlightening journey, to say the least. One topic that has repeatedly come up over the years has been encouragement. At the writing of this blog, the following verse has been front and center:
Let brotherly love continue.
– Hebrews 13:1
Sidenote: for a little more insight into the types of love taught in the Bible (including “brotherly love”), read How to Love Like Jesus.
Encouragement comes in all shapes and sizes. There is no one way to encourage someone else or, for that matter, be encouraged. Sometimes encouragement comes in the most unexpected of ways. To me, it’s truly exciting because God’s ways are always superior to our own – He always knows the best way to encourage His children. Interestingly, I’m often most encouraged when my encourager goes along unawares. If/when I tell this person of their good deed, they typically respond with, “Gee, I had no idea.”
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”
– 1 Corinthians 2:9
Never underestimate the impact of your life on the lives of others.
What I mean to say here is, that while nuanced, it is a rather simple concept. Who can say what will be encouraging to one person and not the next? Who can predict how much a simple smile, hug, or kind word will affect someone? We often overlook simple gestures that say, “I’m right here beside you, my friend.” I’d argue that all most of us need in this life is to know we’re loved. “Let brotherly love continue.”
If you know me, you know I love golf. You might even know me well enough to know that I possess a high level of skill in the game, so you might assume that’s why I enjoy it so much. But you’d be wrong. What I love most about golf is God’s presence in nature. The sights, the smells, the feel of the grass…these are all things that make me smile and say “Thank You” to God. I catch myself walking down the first fairway saying to myself, “Life is good, Ed, thanks be to God.” That may sound contrived, but I swear it is true.
Life can be difficult, but we have God’s promises, right? Look around, engage with others, and behold God’s fingerprints all over His creation. The God who’s accomplished all of this is the same One that loves you, protects you, holds you close to His bosom.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
– Romans 8:31-39
Feeling a bit victorious right about now? Feeling inspired? Good. You ought to be. Life is tough, but God is a lot tougher, and He’s on your side. He intends to love you in ways you cannot even fathom, more than your finite mind is able to imagine, even (a la 1 Corinthians 2:9). And get this, He also intends to use you to love others so they might feel the gentle hand of God, just when they really need His support.
Encouragement is something we ought to abide in as a standard for living. Just being alive and made new in Christ is encouraging. Just being able to live and serve others is encouraging. We know that the outcome of our lives has been predetermined by God, that we are to spend eternity with Him. If that’s not encouraging, I don’t know what is. Therefore, any reminder large or small, short or tall, wide or narrow that amplifies our great hope in the future is a grace gift from God, Himself, and an unparalleled source of encouragement. I guess what I’m trying to say is rather simple: everything points to the glory of God, our God, our Lord, our Savior. Some days that “everything” is you, my friend. Other days it’s nature, animals, the sun on my face. It’s all encouraging and it’s all encompassing.
Encouragement is everywhere in this world, just open your eyes and behold it. Smile today. Be present. Be loved.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins