It Was Just the Encouragement I Needed

One day my husband walked out to the mailbox and retrieved a card addressed to me. The return address was unfamiliar, as was the sender. It’s always fun getting mail, but receiving a card from a stranger was intriguing! As I opened the envelope and pulled the card from its place, I found a note from a sweet woman who had been listening to both my radio broadcast, and now my podcast. She wrote to tell me how this particular ministry had helped her. You cannot imagine the encouragement that was to my heart. You see, there’s really no feedback from a podcast as there is a blog where someone could leave a comment, and to be honest, I had gotten a bit discouraged.

“Was the time and effort I was pouring into this podcast really beneficial?” I asked myself.

God knew my thoughts, doubts and questions, so he burdened a dear woman to write to me. To get a note from a “real, live person” was the gentle reminder that my heart needed that this ministry was God’s plan. He had ordained it, and He was using it in some way to encourage others.

That was several months ago. My new friend and I had some contact via Facebook messenger, and she suggested we get together and meet over coffee at a nearby coffee house.

When we met last week, our hearts were immediately knit together. We had prayer, we discussed burdens. We shared blessings. It was wonderful, and my heart received just the encouragement needed to keep on keeping on!

From whom are you receiving truth that equips you to grow in Christ? Is it your pastor? Small group leader? Your mentor? A friend? Have you used your words, either spoken or written to encourage their heart about their ministry? It may seem to you that they don’t need encouragement, but I promise you, there are times of doubt that creep into their heart like a spider working its web into the corners of your home.

This is your nudge to reach out to them and let them know what their ministry has meant to you. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;” Hebrews 12:12 This verse is referring to helping Christians stay away from discouragements that come that make them want to quit. Servants can become disheartened because of trials that come as they minister. Things like these can cause a person to wish to give up their ministry:

• Criticism
• Harsh words
• Negativity
• Weariness

It’s our responsibility to help and spur one another on in these difficult days. We’re probably all aware that it’s not easy to stand up and speak up for truth today. Therefore, I’m encouraging you to do what my new friend did for me.

Refresh someone who is serving the Lord in a way that blesses your life! Send a note. Take them to coffee. Call them and thank them. Find some way to keep their heart encouraged in the Lord. You have no idea how it will bless them!

Thank you, Jennifer for being a sweet blessing to me! Now friends, who will you refresh?