SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 16:13 (The Message)
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, 14 and love without stopping.
A STORY by Dean Merrill, Another Chance
One man who was ousted from his profession for an indiscretion took work as a hod carrier simply to put bread on the table. He was suddenly plunged into a drastically different world; instead of going to an office each day, he was hauling loads of concrete block up to the fifth level of a construction site. Gone was the piped-in music in the corridors; now he had to endure blaring transistors. Any girl who walked by was subject to rude remarks and whistles. Profanity shot through the air, especially from the foreman, whose primary tactics were whining and intimidation; "For---sake, you---, can't you do anything right? I never worked with such a bunch of --- in all my life..."
Near the end of the third week, the new employee felt he could take no more. "I'll work till break time this morning," he told himself, "and then that's it. I'm going home." He'd already been the butt of more than one joke when his lack of experience caused him to do something foolish. The stories were retold constantly thereafter. "I just can't handle any more of this." A while later, he decided to finish out the morning and then leave at lunchtime.
Shortly before noon, the foreman came around with paychecks. As he handed the man his envelope, he made his first civil comment to him in three weeks. "Hey, there's a woman working in the front office who knows you. Says she takes care of your kids sometimes." "Who?" He named the woman, who sometimes helped in the nursery of the church where the man and his family worshiped. The foreman then went on with his rounds. When the hod carrier opened his envelope, he found, along with his check, a handwritten note from the payroll clerk: "When one part of the body of Christ suffers, we all suffer with it. Just wanted you to know that I'm praying for you these days." He stared at the note, astonished at God's timing. He hadn't even known the woman worked for this company. Here at his lowest hour, she had given him the courage to go on, to push another wheelbarrow of mortar up that ramp.
AN OBSERVATION:
Normally it doesn’t take much to become discouraged. A word here, an act there, a thoughtless comment, a tacky brush-off, some misplaced gossip, an accusation, and/or a boldface lie or even a direct verbal attack … it doesn’t take much. And so it has been for the journey this week. Satan has been on the attack. The spirit was drained. The weight of the world seemed to weigh heavy on the shoulders.
Such is life for even the best of us.
Some of my most admired mentors in the ministry – men and women who, at least on the outward appearances, seemed to have their act together, would admit to deep, dark valleys that they have had to walk. One shared, just as he was about to step into my pulpit to preach, that more than once he was ready to walk away and give up, but something kept gnawing at his spirit and he pushed on. I was in shock … here was one of the conference's great preachers … here was one who had a long and distinguished career before retiring … here was a pastor’s pastor … here was a sought after speaker and Bible teacher … AND HE GOT DISCOURAGED! Wow!
“What caused you to push on, George?” I asked. “Words of encouragement,” was his response. “And the knowledge that God would be faithful and see me through what I was facing.”
As we look around our world there are people who need just a kind word … a word of encouragement … and just maybe God placed you in their path to offer such a word.
If you are the individual who is ready to give up, throw in the towel, walk away … pay attention because God is sending you a word of encouragement today!
When I opened my “homepage” this morning there was a video posting of a little girl singing a simple made-up song with the repeated words: “Never give up”. She was my God-sent word of encouragement! Thank you little girl … thank you God!
PRAYER:
God, when we are down, you lift us up. Thank you for being there for us when we needed you most. Amen
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