If you’re driving around in the country right now you may recognize the background I used. It is of cottonwood fluff floating on the breeze. It is also the vision that God gave a sister-in-Christ for me at the women’s retreat I attended this weekend. It was a picture of how God was going to use me and fit in perfectly with what I was already hearing from the Holy Spirit. The day I left for retreat, I had already heard him say I needed more of him and everybody needs more of him. That was an encouragement for me not to compare myself to others and to share freely what he wanted me to share, even if it was the opposite of what I felt comfortable sharing.

What I mean by that is—my natural instinct is to boast about how well I’m doing at this Christianity stuff and leave out the parts of my past—and not-so-past—failures or sins. I know full well what God has forgiven and forgotten in my life, and thank you very much I’d like to forget them too, but what God reminded me was, everyone needs more of him, even me. Growing in his grace often includes helping others to see how his grace has changed someone like them.

This is my encouragement to you: If God forgave you, he can use you to help someone else receive his grace and forgiveness if you are willing to remove your protective layer and reveal your scars.

Let’s look at some scriptures. (I just added all my scriptures and I’ll warn you there are lots, and many more I could have used.)

Your God says to you: “Comfort, comfort my people with gentle, compassionate words. Speak tenderly from the heart to revive those in Jerusalem, and proclaim that their warfare is over. Her debt of sin is paid for, and she will not be treated as guilty. Prophesy to her that she has received from the hand of Yahweh twice as many blessings as all her sins.”

Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭TPT‬‬

When I read this version, I fell in love with how it was expressed. I felt God’s desire for us to see him as gentle and compassionate. And I felt the celebration of our sins being forgiven. And the encouragement to proclaim the Good News so that his people’s hopes would be revived.

Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. [The] one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.”‬‬

1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬, ‭3‬ ‭NLT

Encouraging words are often given to us straight from the Holy Spirit working through a brother or sister that has been given the gift to speak into your life. Maybe you’ve been raised in a church that doesn’t teach that the gifts of the Spirit are in use today, but you may change your mind when a prophetic word spoken to you settles in your heart as truth.

God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.

1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭MSG‬‬

The Message version of this passage gave me the feeling that we’re all in this together. We weren’t rejected, we were saved, and we should remind each other of that fact.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬, ‭29‬, ‭32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Sometimes we need to call someone out. With our own forgiveness in mind, we can extend God’s grace and forgiveness to others. For it is as the light shines in the dark places of another’s life that God can bring restoration, we don’t need to beat anybody with the stick of condemnation.

There are other reasons we need encouragement. Situations that aren’t related to sin and forgiveness. Sometimes it is circumstances or our health that causes our struggles. In every situation God is the answer and God has the answer; and we are his messengers, his hands and feet.

Praised be God, Father of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, compassionate Father, God of all encouragement and comfort; who encourages us in all our trials, so that we can encourage others in whatever trials they may be undergoing with the encouragement we ourselves have received from God.‬‬

2 Corinthians (2 Co)‬ ‭1‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭CJB

Whether it is trials or offense, God’s heart is for us to be healed and restored. He wants us together praying and encouraging each other and reminding each other of why God wants us, why he loves us.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].‬‬

James‬ ‭5‬:‭16‬ ‭AMP

Share your life with others. Whether it is confession or encouragement. Whether you are hiking up a hill, trudging through the mud, or sailing over smooth water, something you say can make a difference in someone’s life.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.‬‬

Hebrews‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV

Encourage! Encourage! Encourage! Lift each other up and share the love of God. Allow the comfort you’ve been given to help another find hope.

Grace & Peace,

Sandy

Image created in Canva.