“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be
patient with them all” (1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV).
Have
you ever needed encouragement or do you need it now? We all go through times in
our lives when we need someone to encourage us. You may be feeling that you
need someone to encourage you right this moment. Problems, illnesses, money
issues, and worries can totally overtake us so that we feel there is no hope.
It is very likely that sometime in your life you will say, “Why is this
happening to me?”. Jesus said, “I have
told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will
have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16: 33-34 NIV).
Yes, you will have trials, but Jesus will give you the peace you need to get
through it.
How you
handle your trial and the way you show others that your faith has not wavered
and that peace is still in your heart is a great witness to others who are
going through a trial themselves. This trial and how you handle it with faith can
show to others how Jesus can help them and give them strength also.
The
point I am making is that you need to reach out to others after you have gone
through a trial and help them. It is very easy to say to someone, “I am so
sorry”, but if you can tell them that you have gone through it too and that God
helped you and strengthened your faith through it, you can really show
compassion to that person in a special way. There are so many people who feel
all alone in their distress. You are the one who can be the beacon of hope for
them, and you can tell them how His peace was there for you in the middle of
your storm. As the above verse says, “we are to encourage the fainthearted and
help the weak”.
The
Good Samaritan story comes to mind. Here was a man who was lying by the road
all beaten up and half dead. There were
several men who just passed him by and did not help him at all. But one
Samaritan stopped, bandaged his wounds and took him to an Inn.
(Luke 10) We are to be like the Good Samaritan. We are to help others and
encourage them when they are fainthearted. Please do not walk by or ignore
someone who is having trouble. Be the one to encourage, listen, and show
compassion.
Dear
Lord,
Help us
to encourage one another and tell them how you helped us overcome despair by
giving us your peace. Help us to share how faith in you has helped us get
through our tough times. Give us a heart that is full of compassion.
In
Jesus’ name,
Amen
