All the more, Encourage.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Heb. 10:24-25

A few things are concerning me right now, and none of them are Covid-19. That’s not discounting or dismissing the danger of the virus (it’s real!) and it’s not a political statement. I’m not concerned about whether or not I have to wear a mask in the grocery store. I’m not even terribly concerned about when we’ll be able to gather in a large-group, in our church building (though I am SO looking forward to that!).

I’m concerned that we, and we includes me, are getting distracted from our calling, purpose, and mission.

In January, as I asked God whether He had a word for me for 2020, a sort of guiding direction for my life, I was not a little surprised when I clearly heard, “Encouragement.”

Encouragement?? What sort of word is that? It isn’t even a Verb! I’m a verb girl, God!

Encouragement. It felt a little flat, honestly. But I wrote it down, and purposed to figure out what on earth God wanted me to do with it.

In March, I attended a workshop titled, “How to Have Difficult Conversations.” I didn’t want to go, but I knew I needed to, as even the mention of difficult conversations makes me break out in hives. I hate them, I’m bad at them, ministry is full of them—I went.

At the bottom of the handout was a Recommended Reading list, and the #1 recommended read was a book called, ready for it?

Encouragement.

Written Larry Crab and Dan Allender (I love them both!), I had a hunch this was probably the direction God was going with me. I bought it.

It’s a short book, but I’ve been going through it slowly, because it’s so good and I’m wrecked by how short I fall of being an truly encouraging person.

In short, to be an encouraging person, my overarching goal, in every personal interaction, is to minister to that person. That is, my goal is to listen and seek understanding so that I can become aware of the person’s hidden fears (we all have them) and speak words from love and targeted toward diminishing, and destroying, that fear.

How often do I go onto Facebook with the goal of seeing who I can encourage today?

When I’m getting ready for church in the morning do I ask God how I can be an encouragement to others today?

When I interact with my children, my husband, my housemates, do I inwardly seek opportunities to speak encouragement and life into their lives?

Sadly, the truth is, most often my underlying goal is some form of self-protection. Looking out for self. Defending self. Ensuring I’m not hurt. Guaranteeing my viewpoint is heard. Championing my view.

Why is it so hard to set aside self for the sake of encouraging others?

I can’t speak for anyone else but me: For me, it’s because it is terrifying to completely let go of looking out for self. Who will look out for me?

To give ourselves to the encouragement, strengthening, building up, and blessing of others, means abandoning ourselves to the care of …

God.

I don’t say this flippantly. Letting go of looking out for self isn’t an abstract thing—it plays out in real life, flesh and blood ways that sometimes feel painful. But isn’t this what we’re called to? Isn’t our purpose, as followers of Jesus, to seek the good and welfare of others? Aren’t we called to consider how to stir each other up toward love and good deeds, encouraging each other all the more as we see the day approaching.

I do believe that there is crazy stuff going on in our world. It sure seems like we are seeing the day approaching! But I can get so caught up in it that I completely forget what God told me to do in these days that we’re in!

Encourage. Reach out. Listen. Try to understand what’s going on beneath the layers. People are afraid, and it’s not just the people wearing masks.

I have definitely been battling discouragement, for a variety of reasons. And I’m struck by the fact, again and again, that I don’t usually find courage, strength, energy, and resolve by someone posting another click-bait news article on Facebook, or someone “speaking out” on another issue.

I’m encouraged when someone listens to me. When someone checks on me and asks how I’m doing. When someone send me a funny meme or gif or message that says they identify with how I’m feeling. Even when someone who loves me cares enough to speak a hard word about why I’m discouraged, identifying an idol that’s robbing my joy. Hard words, spoken from people who love me, are welcomed!

So I’m writing this to myself first and foremost. Writing things is a form of accountability for me. I endeavor to be an encourager. I think it’s critical we keep this front and center, all the more as we see the day drawing near.

Thanks for reading.