“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
I’ve come to the realization that it’s ok to say, “I’m not ok.”
But it’s taken me a long time to get there.
I’m a good listener, and I’ve gotten good at asking questions so that I don’t have to talk about myself.
Because there were times when I shared things about myself and my life with people. . . with friends. . . and I felt knocked down.
In one instance I was told that I had no right to feel a certain way because I was financially stable. In another instance I shared a lifelong dream and was told that it wasn’t a good dream for me because I’d be bored.
If the things I say about myself are cast off by those around me, why should I bother saying anything?
And so over the years I’ve kept everything myself . . . my joys, my struggles, my heartaches, and the crazy awesome things God’s doing in my life.
Find the truth
In my quest to discover and speak truth. . .
Truth about God
Truth about who I am
Truth about what’s going on in my life
I want to be someone who speaks the truth about what’s going on in my life.
Because we weren’t created to “do life” alone.
And because my testimony may encourage someone else.
We weren’t created to be alone.
God didn’t create us to be alone. He created Adam, and then He created Eve: “Then the Lord said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.’” Genesis 2:18 ESV
God didn’t create us to push through life’s struggles alone: “For if they call, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” Ecclesiastes 4:10 ESV
And how can we lift each other up if we don’t share what’s really happening in our lives?
But don’t share everything with everyone.
Speaking the truth about our lives doesn’t mean we need to bare our hearts and souls to everyone.
Let’s share with trusted friends who give wise counsel. . . unlike Job’s friends (Job 42:7).
It’s not easy for me to trust people, and so I value deeply those few dear, trusted friends God has blessed me with. “A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 ESV
Be an encouragement
God created us to “do life” with others. . . so let’s encourage others in their joys and struggles.
“And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV
The word “encouragement” occurs throughout the book of Acts as Luke describes the growth of the early church (Acts 15:31; Acts 15:32; Acts 16:40; Acts 18:27; Acts 20:2).
Paul writes about going to visit Christians in Rome: “that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” Romans 1:12 ESV
But. . .
. . . the small voice in my mind says, “Your joys and struggles aren’t as important as other peoples’.”
But if my joys and struggles are important to me, and I’m important to God, then my joys and struggles matter to God.
And the truth of my joys and struggles can be used as a testimony to declare the goodness of God.
What truth about your life do you struggle to share? How can your current joys and struggles be used as a testimony to declare the goodness of God?
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
