Encouragement

For us here in Vancouver, the day began with beautiful sunshine which always lifts our spirits. But with nowhere to go for many people; i.e. no work, no school, no shopping outside of government permitted essentials, even the sunshine has limited effect.

In one sense, any trial that comes into our lives is unplanned and disruptive to our expectations. But some trials last longer than others and are disruptive to everything in our lives. The COVID-19 crisis has, in many ways, been this kind of trial.

In Proverbs 17:17 Solomon said, “A brother is born for adversity.” My sister, unfortunately, used to lift that verse out of context and use it to say that I gave her grief.

Our recent Journeys of Paul tour was full of highlights for me. But perhaps the most impactful locations we visited were on the island of Crete, where Paul left Titus to “set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city” (Titus 1:5).

In over thirty-two years as a pastor, I’ve known many burden-bearing Christians. But I’ve discovered that, while some people may do this initially because of their natural temperament, Christians who do this over the decades do so because of growth in grace.

This verse is a simple beginning to a lengthy book—some forty-eight chapters—all filled with wonderful visions from God and sometimes some pretty amazing and even difficult to understand prophecies.

Theologically, it is an amazing truth; but to us humans who are limited to occupy only one space at a time, we can find it a bit hard to appreciate. God occupies all places and all times simultaneously—all of heaven and earth, all of the time. Preachers often use that truth to remind themselves and their listeners that God is with us at all times and sees everywhere we go and everything we do.

Do you ever get discouraged? Do you ever get weighed down with the burdens of ministry?

I’ll never forget my first roller-coaster ride. Neither will my sister, Michele—my unfortunate companion. Poor Michele. She, who even at ten years old loved roller-coasters, didn’t know that during our hour-long wait in line, my second thoughts were multiplying. This was my first roller-coaster, and I was beginning to think this wasn’t such a great idea. By the time we were being seated, I was truly afraid.

Someone has said, “Pits have no easy exits.” Discouragement, depression, hopelessness, inadequacy, and fear are just a few of the pits where each of us can find ourselves. Although these pits “have no easy exits” they certainly can be exited!

You’ve heard the quote: “God is more concerned with our character than our comfort.” It’s a true statement, but it’s not the whole story.

It is impossible for any local church to carry out the Great Commission without missionaries. Missionaries, then, are our co-laborers in the harvest.

It’s easy to explain why we need renewal because all of us can easily identify with the all-too-familiar sense of depletion. But what do we do when we come to this point? How do we renew?

My daughters and I recently made a last minute lunch run to one of our favorite restaurants, Chipotle. I love when we can squeeze in time together like this, and it was especially enjoyable since the grandkids came, too!

These statistics speak to the realities of stress, weariness, and emptiness that are part of serving people. But not every pastor falls by the wayside of statistics. So what is the difference between a pastor who becomes a statistic and a pastor who presses on through the struggles and completes his race still in the ministry?

Have you ever handled rose petals and noticed how soft and delicate they were? The rose has been dubbed the “Queen of Flowers.” This beautiful flower has been a symbol of love, romance, beauty and pleasure. Each bloom is different and unique. Roses are hearty but fragile at the same time.

A few things in life are absolutely tragic. Some things are mysteriously strange. Many, however, are just plain funny. There isn’t a day that passes in which I fail to see, hear, or read something that makes me smile. And because laughter is such effective therapy, I’m grateful that God dispenses this divine medication so frequently.

You know them—they slap your back and say an encouraging word…without really pausing to hear how you’re doing, or if you actually need encouragement, or maybe a listening ear. That’s annoying, but the worst problem with a professional backslapper is not what they do, but what they miss—especially when they are a spiritual leader.

There are few tools that have the power to multiply your ministry like encouragement. Soulwinning and evangelism is the main thing. Discipleship is no less important. And encouragement is indispensable for both.

The Corinthian church was in desperate need of preaching. Every chapter seems to open one more sore, one more conflict in need of healing—troubles the church members often did not recognize.