“For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you brother.” Philemon v 7
“Therefore comfort one another and encourage one another, just as you are doing.” l Thessalonians 5:11
“Let the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and encouraging one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts toward God. Colossians 3:16
I’m on such a spiritual high after my visit yesterday to the CA Health Care Facility, – Better known as Stockton Prison. I have about a dozen men I’ve been writing to for years, but since the beginning of Covid, that is the one prison that have not been able to schedule a visit to for the past 18 months. I was shocked when I was granted a visit this past Friday. My buddy Scott had transferred from Mule Creek to Stockton back in 2018 and I hadn’t seen him since then.
No one ever knows I’m coming. I arrived a little after noon and had planned to visit for a couple of hours and was going to try to get in another visit at New Folsom on the way home. I’ve never seen time fly by so fast. I didn’t leave the prison until 5:45 and without a doubt it was one of my best visits I can remember. We took two photos that came out great as I wasn’t able to get one on my last visit. These photos cover my office wall and are in my prayer journals. Scott was so happy to see me; the feelings were mutual. He has an infectious smile and is a pure delight to be around.
Scott is one of these super high intellect guys, – much smarter than I could ever hope to be. He’s also a champion of the faith and a leader in the Chapel for years. He was superintendent of several school districts and quite the administrator. After that he had a distinguished career as a U.S. Navy Jet fighter pilot. I’m lucky; how many people have military jet pilots as their friends. I always loved talking about his military exploits and had always wanted to ask him about the years in which he was landing planes aboard aircraft carriers. Yesterday, I asked him what it was like at the point of landing where that giant cable would grab the jet and stop it in a split second.
He told me something I never knew. Turns out when you first hit the deck, you immediately go full throttle as if you are taking off again. They do that in the rare chance that if the cable didn’t take, the jet could fall off the ship. Interesting huh? And the stories went on from there.
The left side of my body had turned numb after a half hour or so, but like so many visits, it’s as if I’m able to somehow forget about the burning and enjoy the company to the fullest. When the grace of God is manifest in someone’s life, they become an encouragement to you; a refreshment, as Paul talked about in the book of Philemon.
Some people are just naturally an encouragement, and you come away from being around these people better than when you started. You could say they have the gift of encouragement, but this is one attribute that every believer can put forth, with a little bit of effort. Barnabas was called the son of “consolation” or encouragement, as he was a joy and a blessing to all those around him. The Apostle Paul recognized this about him. When all the disciples were more than skeptical about Paul, being afraid of him, – only remembering him as Saul the persecutor, Barnabas stepped right in and told them in no uncertain words that he had seen the Lord on the road to Damascus, and that he was now boldly proclaiming the Gospel.
It may take a little bit of effort for some of us, but I’m convinced that we can all be an encouragement to those that we are around, and you’d be surprised what a difference in someone’s life can be made by positive, uplifting and encouraging words. I’m reminded of a favorite verse in Proverbs that in a little different way relates to the power of encouragement. Solomon said, “As cold water is to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” I look at the far country part as a metaphor for good news coming from anywhere.
Can you remember the last time you really received some fantastic news, whether by a letter, a phone call, or in person. Perhaps a letter of acceptance to a school or some sought after job or program. Whatever it may be, you experience the ultimate encouragement. Let me ask you; what is the ultimate encouragement? It is the good news of the Gospel; the life changing message of life in Christ that gives us entrance into the kingdom of God. As a disciple of Christ, we are required to take the life-long encouragement of the Gospel to any and all who will listen.
In prison, inmates are sized up by others in short order. It doesn’t take long for those around you to know if you are a person of character and integrity, or just another foul-mouthed fool walking the yard. My friend Scott was the kind of man that stood out from the crowd, and over a period of time, many prisoners would see him as someone who they could approach and speak with about the burdens of prison life. Scott has befriended many men in prison who have surrendered their lives to the Christ Jesus, – all because of a friendly man of encouragement who carried around with him the good news, and was readily willing to share it.
Scott’s encouragement was always close, upfront and personal, but there are many other ways to transport encouragement. I receive no less than five inmate calls everyday, from prisons all across the U.S. Some I recognize immediately and get a big smile on my face; like when I hear from Charles down at RJ Donovan Prison in San Diego, or Caleb, here at nearby Mule Creek. Other times, it’s the joy of hearing from an inmate for the first time. A warm and friendly voice on the phone can be just what the doctor ordered.
We’re not always aware of the daily struggles that our friends are dealing with, and that Lord may have you in just the right place, at the right time to deliver a shot of hope and encouragement. Scott and I talked about that rich verse in Isaiah 50:4 where the prophet said, – The Lord has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season, ( just at the right time) to him that is weary.” Dear friends, the weary, downtrodden, and depressed are all around us, and as a disciple of Christ, the Lord has you in a position to lift their spirit out of the doldrums, simply by a caring smile and some words of encouragement.
So much of my letter writing comes from the inspiration I’ve received by the beloved pastor, Charles Spurgeon, who by the power of the pen wrote literally hundreds of letters every month to friends and parishioners. We live in a day and age of technology, where emails, texting and social media have all but replaced the practice of writing an old fashioned letter. May I challenge you to consider finding some kind of “thinking of you” card and sharing some simple thoughts of love to a friend; someone who might just find themselves in the pit, and are looking for a welcomed friend to pull them out. Let’s look at a verse that points us in a specific direction.
“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 tells us. First Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Throughout the Bible we see instructions to encourage one another and verses that are meant to encourage us. Why is encouragement emphasized in the Bible? Primarily because encouragement is necessary to our walk of faith. I hear it everyday from the incarcerated!
Jesus told His followers, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b). Jesus did not shy from telling His followers about the troubles they would face. Scott and I spoke about this during our visit. Look at Jesus’ own words. He told them the world would hate them (John 15:18-21; see also Matthew 10:22-23 and 2 Corinthians 2:15-16). But Jesus’ grim forecast was tempered with cheer; He followed His prediction of trouble with a sparkling word of encouragement: He has overcome the world. Jesus is greater than any trouble we face.
Without encouragement, hardship becomes meaningless, and our will to go on wanes. The prophet Elijah struggled with discouragement (1 Kings 19:3-10), and so do we. It is important to remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
This truth makes encouragement all the more important. It is not just that we face the world’s displeasure; we are caught in the crosshairs of a spiritual battle. When we are encouraged in Christ, we have strength to put on our spiritual armor and remain steadfast (see Ephesians 6:10-18).
Even in places where Christians do not experience overt persecution or hatred, we all know that life can be difficult. Discouragement is not an uncommon human experience. At times, recognizing that there is meaning in the seemingly inconsequential things we do seems next to impossible. We may want to give up. Yet He who calls us is faithful, and He gives us the power to be faithful, too (1 Corinthians 1:9).
Final Thought
Encouragement makes it easier to live in a fallen world in a holy way. Encouragement makes it easier to love as Jesus loved (see John 13:34-35). Encouragement gives hope (Romans 15:4). Encouragement helps us through times of discipline and testing (Hebrews 12:5). Encouragement nurtures patience and kindness (see 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and Galatians 5:22-26). Encouragement makes it easier to sacrifice our own desires for the advancement of God’s kingdom. In short, encouragement makes it easier to live the Christian life.
Without encouragement, life would soon feel pointless and burdensome. Without encouragement, we can be overwhelmed by the very real pains of our lives. Without encouragement, we feel unloved. Without encouragement, we begin to think that God is a liar or is unconcerned with our welfare. So, the Bible tells us to encourage one another, to remind each other of the truth that God loves us, that God equips us, that we are treasured, that our struggles are worth it.
Encouragement from the Bible gives us the will to carry on. It is a glimpse of the bigger picture. It can prevent burn-out. It can save us from believing lies (“sin’s deceitfulness”). Encouragement helps us experience abundant life (see John 10:10).
Proverbs 16:24 says, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” God’s Word is full of encouragement. Pleasant words, indeed.
Father, we ask that you place within each of your children an ongoing desire to be “a cool breeze” to others, an encouragement to those who are struggling with the rigors of life in a fallen world. O Lord, help each of us to follow the admonition of the Apostle Paul who told us to “not let anything be done through selfish ambition, or conceit, but in lowliness of mine, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests , but also for the interests of others." As we focus on others, give us the heart to bear the burdens of others, thus fulfilling the law of Christ.
From: Fight the good fight of faith & life journal: By Gregg Harris
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