encouragement

The Splendor of Benevolence

While concluding our third (and presumed final) book, Candace and I enthusiastically agreed that we must begin another; though graduation looms within months, we couldn’t handle the possibility of not studying another text together.  Candace drove us to Lifeway to select a new book, however, we couldn’t imagine what would happen once we arrived.

Sitting on the floor in the bookstore with inquisitive spirits and incessant laughter while searching for our subsequent book, a middle-aged woman approached us:

“You have no idea how much encouragement it brings me to see you two young ladies sitting on the floor of the Women’s section laughing and looking at all the different books,” Julia graciously stated.  Candace and I thanked her and introduced ourselves to meet our new friend and with tears welling in her eyes she commended us for simply being our silly selves.  Once we parted ways, Candace and I browsed the bookstore, but, after we decided upon a text, we returned to our original section and Julia found us once more.

She thanked us again, but this time she released the tears to recede as she described the hardships she’s enduring.  We were able to pray with her and perceive the weight being lifted from her mind as her demeanor melted from a deep sorrow into a gentle joy.  Julia informed us that God provided exactly what she needed, and thanked us for inspiring her.  This courageously vulnerable woman thanked us, simply for sitting on the floor of a bookstore: instantly, we were humbled.

We parted again but met her at the checkout but said our final goodbyes by happily waving to our new friend as she walked out the door.  Candace and I brimmed with gratitude about our encounter with Julia—she was so vulnerable and so encouraging even while enduring such pain.  Moments after Julia left, we reached the front of the line and the clerk handed us gift cards that Julia left for us; awe overtook Candace and I as we processed the clerk’s gesture—what a sweet woman to leave a gift to two strangers.

We beamed with joy on the car ride home.  That’s the Church—that’s the body of Christ—we uplift one another when sorrow submerges us and we exhort one another when we perceive the Holy Spirit’s work in one’s life.  This was one of the most beautiful moments I have experienced in quite some time.  I was so blessed to meet Julia, and I know Candace was too.  She began addressing us with kind encouragement, and she completed the conversation with a gracious gift.

Candace and I reflected on God’s faithfulness, occupied with awe and humility.  Joy invaded our hearts and strength replenished our minds—this is why we pray and study God’s word—these moments are why we faithfully serve Christ and commend one another to do likewise: because Jesus changes lives.  From the moment one surrenders their life to Christ, He does not stop radically impacting them and gently beckoning them into His presence.  We saw that in Julia’s life and we felt that in our own lives; we serve such a faithful God who constantly reminds us of His steadfast love.

You’re Making Revival

“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for my soul.” Psalm 66:16

Every so often, I venture out to grab a cup of coffee and read God’s word in a different setting.  The past few times I’ve gone, though I have chosen a different location each time, I have sat across from fellow believers who likewise are studying the word!  This morning, I heard a young man, assumedly in high school or college, discipling a younger boy (about junior high aged), and was filled with joy!

Over the last few weeks, I have seen young people seeking out and studying who God is all over!  This generation is eager to know Him and He is moving everywhere.  This might be a dark time in our nation and in this world, but He is still working all around us.  I’ve seen so many people of my generation professing the gospel and teaching it to those around them!  Like the verse in this Psalm, we should be telling those around us what the Lord has done!  Believing, showing, proclaiming that Christ is enough.

We may feel far from persecution, but our brothers and sisters—our church—is strongly being persecuted.  Some of my favorite verses are found in John 16; in this chapter, Jesus explains the Holy Spirit to His disciples and tells them that He will soon leave them.  Knowing their hearts, He said “You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20).  Later, verse 22, He mentions that they will see Him again and they will have joy that “no one will take.”  Jesus affirms that He will return to the Father soon and the disciples react saying “Now we know that You know all things and do not need anyone to question You; this is why we believe You came from God” (John 16:30).  Jesus informs the disciples that they will be scattered and assures them that the Father is with Him (John 16:32).  The chapter concludes with Jesus saying “I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world, you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).  Time has passed on, and not all suffer as the disciples did, but persecution still exists and new persecutors, namely ISIS, have come to invoke fear from believers as they terrorize our body of Christ.  But they cannot stop our God.  Job declared “I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted” (Job 42:2).

In Acts 4, Peter and John defend that they “cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).  After that, they prayed for boldness to speak of the Lord (Acts 4:29), and so they did.  Their faith, and others of the time, gave us the 27 books of the New Testament, and now faith has spread around the globe!  Today and these past few weeks I have been able to watch Christians fall in love with God in coffee shops across America!  As I learn more about Him I continue to grow in my love for Him, as do those studying with me!

Our generation is eager and searching for God, and our lips utter His glory, we should exclaim “Come and see what God has done: He is awesome in His deeds toward the children of man,” (Psalm 66:5) as the generations before us did.

I am encouraged by this revival awakening in my generation.  No matter what, “When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat” (I Corinthians 4:12-13).  God is moving, and we can choose to follow and serve Him, or we can choose to “shrink back” out of fear.  Either way, God’s will shall endure, and Christ will be victorious.

 

For Further Reading:

II Corinthians 4:8-12

Hebrews 10:39

Romans 8:19-27

Isaiah 48:10-11

I Thessalonians 5:18

Micah 6:8