Encouragement in confusing days

Encouragement. I don’t know about you, but I need it. Even the smallest bit of encouragement can make a guy like me feel ten feet tall. It’s a breath of fresh air in the middle of a not-so-fresh world. However, I’m not naturally good at encouraging others, and I bet all the tea in China that I’m not the only one.

Who doesn't need an encouraging word these days?

The world needs a little encouragement, especially as things keep heading farther and farther south. But here’s the first bit of encouragement: Did you know the Bible predicted a couple of thousand years ago that this was going to happen? If you’ve read Revelations, things will get worse. But there’s better news: God wins in the end, and as a result, you and I win too!

As my Pastor-Dad said in a sermon, things are going off the rails because God allows them to. He is in control of everything right now, even when it doesn’t seem like it. Don’t rely on your human emotions and feelings because they can be fickle and not paint a true picture of what’s happening around you. God IS in control. How you and I feel about it doesn’t change that fact.

Author William Arthur Ward talked simply and concisely about the power of encouragement: “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will never forget you.”

I wish I could get more people to understand the power of encouragement. I can remember a former radio station I worked at where the staff would get upset with the general manager because he was rather nitpicky. The gentleman had come to me out of the blue one day and mentioned that I did a good job on a particular task, and he appreciated it. I felt as light as air and almost sprinted through the rest of the day to accomplish what I needed to do.

So, being a young man and a little unsure of where I stood in the pecking order, I walked into the GM’s office and struck up a conversation. I mentioned that his compliment made my whole week and thanked him profusely. I got my gumption up and said there are a lot of other people who would love to hear things like that. His answer? “That’s just not in my nature,” he said rather glumly.

John Maxwell points out the power of a good leader in his book, “Be A People Person.” He says, “After analyzing many surveys, J.C. Staehle (business consultant) found the principal causes among unrest in workers:

1. Failure to give credit for suggestions.

2. Failure to correct grievances.

3. Failure to encourage.

4. Criticizing employees in front of other people.

5. Failure to ask employees their opinions.

6. Failure to inform employees of their progress.

7. Favoritism.

“Even the secular world can recognize the power of encouragement,” Maxwell said.

We have to have each other's backs in this world.

I’m not convinced encouraging others comes naturally to any of us. Human beings are naturally more concerned about themselves than others. But I am more than convinced we can learn how. My heart knows that God wants us to be encouragers of other people. Pastor Rick Crandall taught a sermon on encouragement in the storms of life that illustrates my point.

“Discover the power of encouragement. God wants you to be encouraged, and He wants you to encourage others.

“It was 1945, during one of the last major offensives of WWII. General Dwight Eisenhower was walking near the Rhine River and fell into step beside a young infantryman. The young GI seemed depressed, so Ike asked how the young man was feeling. “General, I’m awful nervous,” he said. “I don’t feel so good.”

Without missing a beat, Eisenhower says, “Well, you and I are a good pair then because I’m nervous too. Maybe if we just walk along together to the river, we’ll be good for each other.”

Am I the only one that can mentally “see” that young GI standing up a little straighter and walking more confidently to what lay ahead than he had done so before?

Remember this: “Encouragement is food for the heart, and every heart is a hungry heart.” As hungry as your heart is for encouragement, remember that others are too. You initiate the encouragement wherever you happen to be. People will never forget how you made them feel, especially when things get tough. Could that eventually open a door to talking about Jesus? It’s more than possible.

Pastor Ryan Leak of Eagle Brook Church in Minnesota laid out a challenge I’m pass on to you: Find one person to encourage every day this week. You may be surprised at what it will do for you as well.