Encouragement and Direction

This time last month Rose and I were in New Orleans. We had gone off to be alone to celebrate our anniversary. Turns out we aren’t very sneaky because several people found us. That was okay. It was basically two groups of people whom we love and who were having real problems.

I find that when people are troubled they are usually discouraged and lost. Being the wise man that I am I try to offer encouragement and direction.

Encouragement. I find that it’s not very helpful to tell folks in these circumstances things like: “It’s going to be okay.” “It’s always dark before the dawn.” “Things aren’t as bad as you think.” These kinds of statements aren’ve very helpful and really aren’t encouraging. People are discouraged because they lack courage. The absence of courage is fear. I tell folks. Jesus hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s still there. He’s the source of our courage and the one who can chase away our fears. Nothing is more encouraging than to know even though we can’t see or feel Him, that He is still around. Just telling them this isn’t quite enough. You have to be Jesus to them. You have to love on them quite a bit. That’s really the blessings part. It’s a blessing for them and for you.

Direction. Problem is when you love on someone, you get tempted to tell them what to do.  I find it’s not very useful to try to figure out what someone else should do. I guess I’m really not that smart. I often don’t really understand what the problem is. Even if I do understand, the lost person isn’t likely to recognize that I know the way out for them. So I tell people. Go to Jesus. He’s got the answers and, more importantly, He has the power to execute what needs to be done to fix the problem.

In short then, I tell folks: “Jesus is still there so run to Him.” It’s simple but not simplistic. In the cases of my two groups of those I love, the directions worked. In both cases things are much better today.

The problem. It turned out that in both cases the problem was a group of people. People usually are the problem. People in our lives will distract us, turn us from our path and confuse us about Jesus. In both these cases, that’s what had happened. In both cases, the folks I love have separated themselves from the people causing the problem, at least for a while and, at least for now, things are much better.

I can guarantee you that there are folks you know who are discouraged and lost. Give the advice that I gave and you may become known as a harbor in the storm, a light and some salt. That’s a good thing. 

In fact, it’s what we are called to do.

Encourage and direct and 

Be blessed.

Nick