Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

Encouragement for the Long Haul!

Dear Friend,

Sometimes we encourage people going through an intense but short-lived situation. Other times we know people who facing challenges that will be over a long haul.

Sometimes over that long haul we may forget a person’s ongoing need to cope. To be encouraging over the long haul, we discover a simple two-part rhythm is helpful: Remembering and Showing Up.

Some of us remember each other’s situations effortlessly. We just do! For others of us, if the situation is out of sight, it’s out of mind, so we use our calendars to remind us.

Leonard Sweet once said, “The key to care is be there.” There is great moment in the story of David when King Saul was looking to kill him. “Saul’s son Jonathan rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.” I Samuel 23:16. Jonathan showed up.

Our rhythm for encouragement over the long haul is first to remember and second to show up. The way we show up depends on the person, their situation and location and the kind of relationship we have with them.

There are several different ways of showing up and all of them may be encouraging.

           Physical presence – go there like Jonathan did to David.

           Zoom or Facetime which allow you to see a person eye-to-eye.

           Phone call – voice to voice – voices are unique. Just hearing you can comfort.

           Email and text. Text is more immediate but both communicate you are there.

Social media, such as Facebook is a way to show up, but if you have a real relationship with a person, its far more encouraging to connect with them directly.

The Lord who loves you is with you for the long haul. May you be a channel of your Lord’s encouragement in the lives of others over that same long haul!

Joy to you - Stan

© Copyright 2022 E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

1. Think of a challenging situation in your life that lasted a long time. Who encouraged you and how did they do it?
2. Who are the people in your life facing long-haul situations.
3. How will you remember - such as by putting them into your calendar every three months or so.
4. How will you show up? Physically? Zoom? Phone? Text? Email? Social Media?

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash