Did you know that you
are an encouragement to someone? Did you know that your life… you, who you are,
is an encouragement to someone else?
Yes, it is! You may not
even know the ways you have been an encouragement to someone, but you have. It
could be something you said, a smile you gave, a piece of paper someone saw you
throw away, it could have been the way you talked to your child, or how you
kept calm during a time of chaos. We don’t always know the impact we have on
others around us, a friend or even a stranger. But our lives are an encouragement to those who are
watching!
I remember when I first
realized this, that my life, my words could unknowingly have an impact on
someone else. My husband and I have a friend who is a preacher. One Sunday,
years back, we were seated in the congregation listening to his message. He is
an intriguing teacher. His creative and on point analogies are what captivate
my attention. However, on this occasion, something else entirely, caught my
attention. He told a story about a time we were all together and mentioned that
I had said something that made him rethink things for his life. My ears and my
heart perked up! Little old me? Spoke words that made someone re-evaluate an
area of their life? What? He didn’t use specifics and to this day I have no
idea what I could have said that impacted him, but I do know that God used me
to encourage this friend and possibly change the direction he was headed.
It hit me like a ton of
bricks. My words had an impact on someone and I could have gone the rest of my
life without knowing it. This got me thinking about how often I may have had an
impact on someone, encouraging them and not even known it. I had also thought
about all the times someone had done something that encouraged me that I didn’t
make a point to share with them, friend or otherwise. How often had I observed
someone and felt encouraged and inspired by who they are? How many times had I
been inspired to be a better me through someone else’s actions, words or life?!
What a gift! What a
gift to know that our life can be an encouragement to those around us. What a
gift to know that God can use us to encourage and change others, even if we
aren’t explicitly aware.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God." 2 Cor. 1:3-4 (NIV)
Does knowing this
change things? Does knowing that your life is an encouragement to those around you
now suddenly seem daunting? I wanted to leave you with 3 practical ways to let
God use you:
1. Be genuine and transparent. One of the reasons we go through trials and discomfort is so that God can use us to comfort others. Be honest about where you are and what God has done in you, focusing on giving Him glory. Speak truth in love and have compassion toward others. We must rely on the Holy Spirit when we share, so...
2. Listen to the Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Listen to and follow His prompts. He knows what you need and what the people around you need. You never know when He will use you. So, stayed plugged into God’s Spirit.
3. Pray for others. There are needs all around us. Pray for those who might be struggling. If you see that a co-worker might be having a difficult time but they don’t open up and you don’t want to pry, pray. God may be using you in that person’s life.
Keep on encouraging others ladies!
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni
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