The God of Encouragement

Scripture:  2 Corinthians 7:6  “But God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the arrival of Titus.“

 

Observation:  Even Paul got discouraged sometimes!!  Yet Paul recognised that “discouraged” was not a place the Lord would have him stay.  “Discouraged” was not a place where Paul could be effective in his call and in his mission, for “discouraged” drains your energy & inclines you to give up.  And so, Paul experiences a “BUT GOD” moment – an intervention of the Lord in the person of Titus to turn Paul’s discouragement around to encouragement.  It was a simple thing, really, the arrival of Titus -   almost an “unspiritual” thing - but Paul had eyes to see what God, the God of encouragement, wanted him to see.  That He had sent Titus to turn Paul’s jaded view of his situation around and enable Paul to “keep on keeping on”!.

 

Application: I have my moments of discouragement, too….but I need to recognise, as Paul did, that discouragement is not a place the Lord wants me to be! – and so, He will encourage me – because that’s His nature!!   I need to look out for that encouragement – to look out for the arrival of a Titus –maybe in the form of a friend or acquaintance, or even in a remark in a conversation!  Maybe in a word of Scripture, or something as “unspiritual” as a snippet on a TV program I happen to be watching!  But it will be there – because my God is the God of encouragement!  But, like Paul, I must have the eyes to see it, and allow myself to hear it & be encouraged! 

 

The other person in the scene above is Titus.  Where Paul is the “encouragee” Titus is the “encourager”.  Am I allowing the Lord to use me in that way?  To look out for an opportunity to genuinely encourage those with whom I have contact – no matter how small that encouragement may seem to me.  It may well be that the Lord wants to use me to be His “Titus” to one of His “Pauls”.

 

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father, thankyou that You are the God of encouragement.  Forgive me for those times I have allowed discouragement to take hold in my life!  Please help me to have the ears to hear & the eyes to see when You are sending Your encouragement my way!!  And, Lord, may I be a source of Your encouragement to others.  In Jesus’ name  Amen.