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Devotional

Just a Short, Simple Note

by ANGELA SHCHERBAN ENCOURAGEMENT Contentment
Just a Short, Simple Note
  • by ANGELA SHCHERBAN
  • Comment
“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

It was just a short, simple note, really; but I kept reading and re-reading the words on the small piece of paper my newfound friend had given me before leaving. There were only two or three sentences, but they were deep words of thanks and encouragement that lifted my soul. She wrote of how evident God’s grace was in what I had done for her, and how the Lord was glorified in the victory of the spiritual battle she overcame. 


It struck me then just how much the note encouraged me. I was having a rough morning, caught up in sinful thoughts of worth and self and time when God tenderly stopped me through the words of my friend. I found my mind re-focused, worshipping God for his goodness.


That morning, those few strokes on that piece of paper made all the difference.


What about you? Maybe you’re at a rough spot in your ministry, where you keep watering and watering and nothing is growing. Maybe you’re tired of the mundane; the never-ending chores around the house, the cooking and cleaning and the kids always getting into some type of mess. Or maybe you’re the one in trouble; at a point in your life where you realize you’re stuck and you just don’t know the way out. 


Whatever it is, it’s not the end. Moreover, it’s not hopeless; because your ordinary days and routine life, lived for God’s glory, matter. 


And when those sinful thoughts come, threatening to swallow you up; preach the Gospel to yourself. Open Scripture and let God encourage you, reminding you of who you are in Him. 


But don’t stop there. Take a minute to write a note to someone who God has used in your life to bring about some type of change. Who knows? Maybe they’ll need it now just as much as I needed it then… 


Closing Prayer
Father, forgive me for not fulfilling your command of encouraging others daily. Thank you for the reminders in Scripture, and for renewed strength that comes from encouragement. Help me be someone who lifts others up, so that You would be glorified. Amen.
Resources
Song: It Is Well by Keith and Kristyn Getty The classic song “It is well with my soul” is one of the ones that truly “picks me up” on the hard days. Beautiful performance by Keith and Kristyn Getty.
Question for Reflection

When is the last time you told someone words of encouragement?

Comments
Angela Shcherban
December 26, 2022

I know that my responsibility as a wife is to encourage my husband (and not just my responsibility, but something I enjoy doing!). The last time I shared with him about the things that God taught me through his sermon, I could see that the words were much-needed and that God used the encouragement to give him strength for the day. I know that there’s so much room for growth in encouraging others; starting with my own family and moving on to the people around me… God help me to truly be someone that encourages others rather than brings them down!