Be an Encourager

“...that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ...” 1 Cor. 1:5-7

The dispenser of wisdom is sometimes experience. When you look at someone else’s circumstances, you may be quick to assess the situation and give a word of helpful advice.

When you are suffering pain, your most common response to the light comments of well-wishers is anger. If they really knew how you felt, they would have no trouble sharing your pain. But not knowing how if feels leads to an uneasy, tensed silence and distance.

A great essay on dealing with pain and suffering is found in Phillip Yancy’s book Where is God When It Hurts? Physical and emotional pain serve and invaluable purpose in life. The lessons learned are not to be forgotten.

Have you ever wondered why you have to go from one difficulty to another? Why life can’t be as easy for your as it is for your friends?

If you respond correctly to pain, it will produce within you a sensitivity to the pain which others bear. When you have lived with pain, you lose much of your fear of pain and can approach those who are suffering and touch their lives in a meaningful way because (and here’s the key) you have learned how to make a friend of pain.

Allow suffering to transform you into a first-rate encourager.