A Lifeline Of Encouragement

When you’ve been through something tragic or life altering, you begin to hear lies in your mind disguised as the truth. One I heard was, “You’re the only one who has ever gone through this.” While it was true that no one had been through my exact circumstance, others had been through similar. That lie isolates you. It says that no one can understand you, feel your pain or be able to help you unless they’ve been through that exact thing. Because I’ve heard and experienced those lies, I’ve confronted them in others as I’ve sought to bring them encouragement. The devil roams like a roaring lion seeking to isolate you so he can devour you. There’s strength in receiving and giving encouragement to others to fight off his attacks.

In Luke 22 Jesus knew that Peter and the disciples were going to go through a traumatic experience. He also knew Peter was going to betray Him and feel unworthy to serve Him anymore. In verses 22-23 Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has demanded permission to sift [all of] you like grain; but I have prayed [especially] for you [Peter], that your faith [and confidence in Me] may not fail; and you, once you have turned back again [to Me], strengthen and support your brothers [in the faith]” (AMP). What would become Peter’s lowest point in his life, would be the exact thing God would use to qualify him to encourage and comfort others.

Isaiah 35:4 tell us, “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you’” (NLT). Each of us holds a lifeline of encouragement in our hands. Each of us have needed encouragement and also have the ability to encourage. This verse tells us we need to speak up when we feel that prompting. Your words of encouragement may be the faith boost they need to remember that God sees them and has not abandoned them. He is coming to save them and will not leave them helpless.

Photo by Viktoriia Ananeva on Unsplash.