Encouragement: Urging others to persist and persevere in their efforts to attain their goals; stimulating others toward love and good deeds.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24)
I was at my friends home one day and the two of us went to the store leaving her children at home. When we returned the oldest daughter told her mom that they cleaned their rooms and did the laundry. The mom, my friend, began to point out to the younger kids what a blessing their older sister was that she would help them do their chores. She mentioned that they should be thankful to have such a great older sister.
All the kids were present during this conversation and I remember thinking to myself, “How encouraging! What an awesome way to point out ways to teach a thankful heart to the younger siblings but also speaking words of encouragement to the oldest daughter for what she did at the same time.”
It is in moments like this one when we, as parents, can give and teach encouragement. We can give our kids encouraging words but we can also teach them how to encourage others.
THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT – Help Us Experience Encouragement
Light Source #1: Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12)
Walking in the Light: Having a fresh encounter with Jesus.
Jesus Christ shared encouragement with His mother Mary, even while dying on the cross. Jesus made sure His mother knew her future was secure when He told her that she’d now be in John’s home. Jesus showed love and encouragement to Mary even in His agony.
Have you ever been encouraged by God? I mean, when you absolutely knew God was saying, “I believe in you! You can do this! I have you!?”
I remember God overflowing me with encouragement when he asked me to speak about something extremely personal at church one day. I was terrified but God kept saying, “You can trust me! I have you!” Well, He did! My mouth was taken over by the Holy Spirit as I shared a very personal piece of my heart. If that wasn’t encouraging enough, a friend had a gift for me that day with the very scripture on it that I spoke about! Only God does stuff like that! This friend had no idea I was even talking that day! God is a great encourager, no, He is THE GREAT Encourager!
How has He encouraged you? Have you stepped out in an area that He asked you to trust Him? How did He come through for you?
Would you take a moment and just give Him praise for it?
Light Source #2: God’s Word is a lamp and a light, so walk in the light of frequent experiences of doing His Word. Psalm 119: 105
Let’s do:
Isaiah 43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
My son has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) When he was younger he went through a period of being afraid to eat. He felt it would be poisoned. There were times when his dad and I had to remind him that we were there and we wouldn’t let anything happen to him. My boy had to completely put his trust in us even though he was afraid.
As we encouraged him he would sit at the dinner table and cry as he put forkful after forkful into his mouth. Everything in his head said it was poison but he was trusting what his mom and dad promised him.
This time reminded me of this verse. It is encouraging to know God doesn’t leave us to do this life alone. He gets right down in the mud with us when He needs to. Just as we did for our son. There was nothing we would not have done for our son to help him.
Are you willing to encourage your kids through the difficult times in their lives? If your kids have not yet experienced any difficult times, buckle up, because more than likely, they will come. Be prepared.
Light Source #3: God’s people are sources of light so walk in real fellowship with Your Children: “the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14
One way we can prepare to be an encouragement for our kids is by remembering how God encouraged us through difficult times in our lives. We can react to our kids the same way God reacted to us during those times.
What I mean is…What is God’s character? How does He encourage? Specifically how has He encouraged you?
Let me give an example: Difficult times will happen to your kids..that should not be a surprise. God can use you tremendously to be the encouragement they need to move beyond their fears. If your kids know that you are for them every single day of their lives then they can feed themselves food when their head screams, “It’s poison!”
Ask yourself this question: Do my kids know I am there for them without a doubt? Do they know I am for them 100% no matter what? You might want to ask them to be sure.
You are the biggest influence in their lives. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the greatest influence for them was also their biggest encouragement?
You and your spouse or another friend may want to discuss how you were or were not encouraged in your childhood and teen years or how you wish you had been.