Do You Need Encouragement?
We all like to be encouraged and sometimes we desperately need encouragement.
Maybe you live in an atmosphere of discouragement and criticism and you long for encouragement. Maybe you try so hard to do things that would finally bring a compliment, or at least no criticism, but it doesn’t happen. Life can certainly be like that. Some people seem driven to cut others down and it’s sad, isn’t it?
Have you ever felt like you were starving
for encouragement? Have you spent much time in God’s Word and soaked up His
assurances and words of encouragement, determined to honor Him and been so
thankful for His love and care? What a God we serve! Does it seem that no
matter what you do, some person finds fault and criticizes? Life has a way of
beating a person down and we need to stay tuned in to God’s Word daily for
sustenance.
Many years ago, I checked out groceries at the grocery store. The cashier handed me my change, looked at me with a smile and said, “Thank you. I hope you have a great rest of the day!” I cried most of the way to my vehicle because it was the nicest thing anyone had said to me that day and I was starving for encouragement or even just a kind word. What a blessing that person was. That person didn’t know I had several small children at home and one of them had severe medical problems which required hours of my time each day, or that money was so tight we didn’t know what to do and that I was exhausted every day from the work load. He didn’t know I was trying to figure out what I could quickly cook for supper so I could get kids to bed and try to sleep more or that my husband was out of work and grouchy or any of the other problems and discouragements I was facing. He just handed me a small bit of kindness and oh, how it was needed. God used that person to encourage me, just a little, and it made an impression on me. I don't remember the person at all, but I do remember the encouragement.
Encouragement is powerful and I want to encourage others, including strangers, so I look for opportunities. We don’t know what people around us are going through and we may not see their pain, but God does and He can prompt us to care and to share a kind word, if we are walking with Him.
Have you ever been encouraged by a stranger? I would love to hear about it. Feel free to leave a comment below. Also, there is a Subscribe button at the top of the page which will allow you to receive new posts in your email inbox. It's free to sign up!
I hope you know Jesus as your personal Savior and are trusting Him for your eternal salvation.
Blessings,
Katherine J Masters
