BE ENCOURAGED IN HEART
August 28, 2017
Prayer: Dear Lord, we want to encourage others. Please help us remember to give grace as we have received from You. Thank You. Amen
Scripture: My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:2-3 NIV
Besa is a sweet girl with some significant mental handicaps. We have had the privilege of knowing her for several years. Her smile and enthusiasm lights up a room. Her heart is full of love for others and especially for Jesus.
One day in class, Besa’s teacher was asking for answers to various questions. Besa struggled, not having the answer to the first several questions. Finally, after several questions, Besa threw up an excited hand and the right answer poured from her lips through her beaming smile. Her teacher asked, “How did you know that answer, Besa?” Besa replied, “Jesus told me.” Her teacher snapped back, “Where was your Jesus during all of the other questions?” Besa, without missing a beat, replied, “Encouraging me!”
Every Christian goes through times of heartache and struggles. How do you reply to a world that asks, “Where is your Jesus now?”
Do you feel His encouragement? How? Have you survived insurmountable situations and now look back and see how God pulled you through? Did you know all the answers, or, like Besa, did you have to think through some tough ones before you had an answer you could run with? Have you ever been in a situation where your only answer was to trust that God knew the answer? Have you ever thought about the wrong answers we tend to grab onto in our search for answers? Do our answers always come right away? Is there value in thinking things through sometimes? What discourages you? Do you tend to lose hope with a few wrong answers or are you one to persevere until you get one right? Where is your hope when it seems that you do not have any of the answers? Have you ever thought about being encouraged in heart as the first step to having “the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Do you see your students grasping for answers? How can you encourage them to wait for the right answer? How can you encourage them to keep thinking, to keep paying attention, to keep trying? Which is louder, the voice of encouragement or ridicule? Which one do you tend to listen to? How do other students react when a wrong answer is given in your class? What is your reaction? How can you be a strong, loving voice of encouragement?
My prayer for you is that you would always be encouraged in heart.
Copyright Kathy Branzell. Email [email protected]
Really a wonderful devotional. I have urged teachers on the staff of the schools I have led and the district where I served as superintendent to be encouragers
When they heeded that advice, we had very successful years.d Besa’s response should bring joy to all our hearts. Thank you for your continued leadership and for the pearls of wisdom you pass along to so many through the devotionals you author.
Thank you Kathy, for your beautiful story about Besa’s faithful heart. God has sent it at just the right time for me, as He always does! We all need a few more Besa’s in our lives! Thanks for sharing and caring. Your faithful heart shines through, as well, in all that you do for those of us on the other end of this internet signal!