“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in [a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:18-19)

It was five am. Twenty young men gathered in the dark of the morning in running shorts and shoes dreading the next twelve minutes of their lives.  The instructions were pretty clear: “You’ve got twelve minutes to run two miles. Go.”

We were athletes, but not professionals, and certainly not runners. It was awful, but we knew that if we all made the time, we would never have to do this again. Twelve minutes later, lungs searing, legs weakening, some of us were still running. To our chagrin, we returned the next morning, and the next, and the next.  We kept at it until every man made the designated time.

Each morning we cheered our slower comrades on until someone got a bright idea: “Get behind them!” Everyone started to clue in. If we all took a few hundred yards and pushed our teammates, even slightly, we could help them remarkably! It was a revolutionary realization.

If we truly want to help someone, it’s best to come alongside him. Encouragement works the same way. Cheering from the sidelines can help somewhat, but physically being there is immeasurably better.

This is not a new idea. It’s ancient! In fact, the original meaning of the word “encouragement” refers to someone who is urging you on, while being close to you. It’s both vocal and proximal – it’s spoken and present. It’s a plea to continue on strong and a hand to help you do it.

Don’t just cheer from the sidelines. Get your hands dirty too. The Holy Spirit, our Comforter, is present with us because we need Him. His presence is life giving. If God has drawn near to us through His Spirit, isn’t it natural that we should be there for others too?

Pray: “Father God, thank You for Your Holy Spirit who is the Comforter. Spirit of God, dwell in me. Give me a love for others that naturally seeks to encourage them. Give me the humility and the confidence to draw near to my neighbor and physically help him in his time of need. Amen.”

Question: How have you been encouraged in the past?

Those who’ve seen Jean Louis Gerome Ferris’ painting commemorating the first Thanksgiving are likely to be misled by the artist’s rendering.

The Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts on Dec. 26, 1620.  Lacking sufficient provisions and shelter for winter, most settlers became ill within weeks.  Ten of the 17 husbands and fathers died with the “first infection,” and of the 17 wives, only three were alive after three months.  By April, more than half of the population had died of disease or famine.  These bleak circumstances were punctuated by other forms of human tragedy.  For example, William Bradford’s wife drowned as they disembarked from the Mayflower, leaving him a widower with a 1-year-old son.

Summer of 1621 brought a welcome reprieve from the harsh environment.  The Wampanoag Indians taught the Pilgrims to plant corn because the wheat they’d brought from England wouldn’t grow in the rocky ground.  The colonists also learned how to hunt and fish in their new surroundings.  Yet that fall, when they gathered for their first Thanksgiving, they were aware that the trials they’d encountered were not over.  In fact, a month later the settlers were restricted to half-rations.  And it was several more years before this small band enjoyed lasting freedom from hunger.

As the Pilgrims grappled with hardship, how were they able to maintain the spirit of gratitude toward God that resulted in the three-day celebration we honor by our Thanksgiving holiday? What can we learn from these forefathers that will help us remain thankful in a modern-day world when discouragement, calamity and heartache invade our lives?

Trust in God’s provision

The Pilgrims cultivated a habit of gratefulness long before they sailed to America’s shores. Traditionally, they set aside days of communal thanksgiving throughout the year to acknowledge God’s mercies and praise Him for His faithfulness.  This religious practice had deeply ingrained an attitude of thankfulness that could not be shaken by life’s events.  Whether expressing gratitude for everyday survival or a situation deemed the special providence of God, their trust in the Lord’s goodness and divine plan allowed them to find solace and strength to face adversity.  They understood that their endeavors were of eternal consequence and drew purpose from the belief that their accomplishments were, according to the Mayflower Compact, “for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian faith.”

What a contrast this outlook is with that of today’s culture.  In a recent Barna poll, 92 percent of people responded that they are “self-sufficient.”  Another survey revealed that many Americans feel the main purpose in life is personal fulfillment.  Given these perspectives, it’s not surprising that individuals often feel overwhelmed by emptiness and despair when difficulties arise. Counteracting the resulting sense of hopelessness and lack of control may seem a daunting task.

However, we have the same choice that our predecessors had: We can depend entirely on ourselves, or we can turn to the Almighty for help. Knowing that a right spiritual perspective is critical when dealing with painful setbacks, Gov. John Winthrop concluded a message to his fellow settlers with Deuteronomy 30:20. Winthrop said, “For He (the Lord) is our life and our prosperity.” A thankful heart sees each day through the lens of God’s providential care.

Fellowship of support

In addition to being bound together by faith, those who came to this new land were linked by a physical interdependence that is uncommon today.  With few resources, the colonists bore one another’s burdens in a manner that we can only imagine.  In view of this necessity, an essay titled A Christian Model of Charity called on the colonists to “knit together in this work as one man…make one another’s condition our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together.”  In this way, the writer said, they would “keep the unity of the Spirit.”

This bond of brotherhood was reflected by the more than 50 Pilgrims who attended the first Thanksgiving feast.  The group spanned generations, from toddler Oceanus Hopkins to 53-year-old William Brewster, and hired servants to seamen.

Approximately 90 Wampanoag Indians joined the festivities as well.  Although they differed greatly from the Pilgrims in culture and religious beliefs, they too valued fellowship and hospitality.  Their willingness to share their food and expertise with the new arrivals had helped ensure the Pilgrims’ survival.  Now the Wampanoags participated in the time of rejoicing as the settlers harvested their first crops.

There’s an old saying: “Shared joy is double joy, and shared sorrow half the sorrow.”  Thanksgiving through the centuries has provided unique opportunities to express love and appreciation for others, as well as to come alongside those in need. Even on those occasions when we are hurting, we can find consolation in doing something for others.  Thankfulness is multiplied as we reaffirm our sense of community and bridge our differences through Christ’s love.

The Pilgrim’s gratitude flourished against the ravages of circumstances because they held fast to their belief in a sovereign, loving Creator and found comfort and support in one another.  Whether then or now, in an uncertain world, the relationships we have with God and those around us are enduring reasons to give thanks.

Take the next step:

Being thankful changes who we are
Sharing a verse at Thanksgiving: One family’s tradition

“The Son of Man is going to come in the Glory of His Father with His Angels.” (Matthew 16:27)

The TV on the wall of my office is on constantly and tuned on mute to a popular news network. As I look at it throughout the day, it is a continuum of horror stories – riots, shootings, natural disasters and financial ruin.

We are engaged in wars we cannot win and greed and corruption have at all levels created a world debt that cannot be repaid.  I just watched police in riot gear clashing with hundreds of rioters, as fires were raging out of control, while looters combed the area, as the stock ticker in the bottom of the screen was showing financial markets in a free-fall.

It is with firm conviction that I believe we are near the end of our world as we know it. It is a question of what will get us first, financial collapse, weapons of mass destruction from without or moral decay from within.

From a realistic worldly perspective, there is little reason for encouragement. But, for those of us who know and love the Lord Jesus Christ, His reign in glory is a comforting and thrilling promise that fills us with great hope and anticipation. Like the saints under the heavenly alter in Revelation 6:9-10, we wonder how long the Lord will allow the world to go its sinful way before intervening in sovereign power and bringing righteousness, equity and justice to the world.

With the Psalmist, I wonder “How long, O God, will the adversary revile, and may the enemy spurn your name forever?” (Psalm 74:10) As I look out at the world, I have every reason to feel defeated and discouraged, but God created me for eternal fellowship with him and through Christ gave me the key to entry for that eternal relationship.

Every day when I read the newspaper or listen to the news it is a parade of horrors, but I just finished reading Heaven Revealed, by Dr. Paul Enns and he showed me how the scriptures describe what heaven will be like and I look forward with great anticipation to enjoying it forever. I will be relieved from the aches and pains of this old body and from the disasters of this world.

Heaven is much more than a place to spend eternity. It is also the place where God and Jesus Christ the Lamb live, a place where we don’t have to see darkly as through a smoked glass, but where we can see our Lord and Redeemer face to face. He promises that forever, “They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Rev. 21:3) What a fabulous promise!

Questions: How do you deal with the troubles of the world? How can you place more focus on your heavenly destination?

Are you feeling ready to walk away from a relationship – are you possibly even considering divorce? We want to pray for you.

“I needed to hear that”, Kelly said with a catch in her voice. The layoff notice had come as a complete surprise. Anger and panic had welled up within her.
Sue had listened to her vent. Then she had spoken quietly and gently reminded Kelly that God knew of this turn of events. He would direct her through the unknown path. He could be counted on to guide her. He would give her wisdom. Kelly’s heart was comforted and strengthened. She was encouraged to go on and her heart softened at the reminder of God’s care.

God’s Word alerts us that in difficult times our hearts can go astray. They can become hardened and turn away from God.

We all know that wondering of “Where is God?” when something significant does not go as we had hoped or planned and life seems to tumble around us.

We live in a world that acknowledges God less and less. Often the choices of others affect us in hard ways. Politics at work, relationships with those we care about, finances, even health issues. We can feel alone and our faith can feel slippery as we walk.

When clouds gather in our lives we can begin to allow unbelief into our hearts. It’s very subtle and slips in. We pray less and our Bible sits unopened more. When we don’t understand God, unbelief creeps in. It can harden our hearts to the point where we tune out God even when He speaks to us. We can find rebellion creeping up on us if we are not monitoring our hearts. Listen to God’s words to us…

“See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 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).

God knows the tendency of our hearts toward unbelief. That’s why He counsels us in these matters. We need to be aware of keeping our hearts soft. God’s call to “Encourage one another daily…” helps build a reservoir within our own hearts … it helps keep our hearts soft.

It is easy to be deceived into thinking God doesn’t have our best interest at heart, especially when things don’t go well. We need to guard our hearts against unbelief and rebellion and know that, in those tough places, He is there to guide us through and teach us.

When you feel unbelief slipping into your soul and find rebellion nibbling around the edges of your heart, seek out spiritual encouragement. Walk and talk with a friend and be honest in sharing your need of prayer. Do a Bible study on a topic that grabs at your heart. Choose to spend some time with God and cry out to him from the depths of your soul telling Him all the things in your heart. Choose to turn toward Him. God will encourage you even when people aren’t there to. Choose to draw near to Him and ask Him to help your unbelief.

When we receive encouragement in our soul from God, we are then in a position to give encouragement. You cannot offer something you don’t possess.

Then, when you hear despair in the lives of those around you or in the emails of those writing to you, you will be equipped to encourage them with words from Scripture, or a gentle reminder of God’s everlasting love even when the road ahead is obscured.

It’s an amazing circle. Daily speaking of God’s care will not only encourage others and bring comfort, strength and hope…it will also encourage you and help keep your own heart soft and your faith strong.

It’s an amazing circle…”He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” ( Proverbs 11:25).

Pay attention to God’s warning against unbelief. Our faith in Jesus is our most valued treasure. If you loose it there is nothing of true value left. Guard against an unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Turn to Him and ask Him to speak to you. Watch for those whose hearts are turning away and ask God to give you encouragement to share. It will build you up as you do.

Father God, I know the tendency of my own heart to grow hard around the edges with unbelief and even rebellion at times. I choose to draw near to You and ask that You would encourage my heart and help my unbelief. I need You to refresh my inner being and give me strength.

Encourage me through Your Word. Give me a greater desire to read it and to pour my heart out to you. Give me people in my life who will share with me the encouragement they receive from You. Help me to encourage others whose hearts are growing hard in difficult times. Daily be my source in everything I pray, in the name of Jesus, amen.

Questions: How does unbelief and rebellion start to take root in ones life?  How can you be ever ready to help those that are in despair around you?

Do you need a little encouragement today? Our mentors are available any time

“And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,  which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30-31)

Jesus goes up to the mountain to pray with the two disciples he trusted the most. John was a solid man he knew he could trust no matter what, and Peter had proclaimed him to be the Messiah. Surely he could count on these two in the days to come.

But God in His wisdom sent Jesus two other men – Moses and Elijah. Both had done God’s will, and been heartbroken by the lack of response from the rebellious children of God. Moses led the Hebrews through the wilderness after miraculous examples of God’s love and power. Yet they still whined, made the golden calf to worship and pleaded over and over  to go back into slavery, and death.

Elijah was to be the first of the great prophets to proclaim the truth to the people of God. His time on earth was under King Ahab  – one of the most misguided rulers of all who traded his faith for Jezebel and led his people astray. Both Moses and Elijah felt alone in the sea of rebellious people but stuck fast, fervent  to God’s calling. God never left Elijah’s side and provided for him during the famine. God also provided for Moses.

The Heavenly Father sent two of the holiest men that ever lived to His Son who was about to take the pathway which would eventually lead to his suffering and death. What a blessing it must have been to Jesus to have these men who had been taken up into Heaven appear in glory (without sin) and speak with him.

The Greek word for “departure” in verse 31 really  means “exodus”. I think Luke’s use of the word is God-given and purposeful. Jesus was about to embark on an exodus for the sins of all men.  God knew His Son would face the same thing Elijah and Moses had faced – a heart hardened and rebellious people who refused to understand. But Jesus’ would not be taken up in a cloud like Moses and Elijah – not yet. Not until he suffered and died for you and me.

I am not sure what Moses and Elijah  said to Jesus, but I am sure they were words of powerful encouragement and faith. Jesus knew their story and what their appearance meant. It must have bolstered Jesus’ faith to the max -  just what he needed to make it through his mission on earth.  No wonder his face shone and his clothes became white, just as they had with Moses. Jesus was in God’s presence. He knew without a doubt his Father would provide, no matter what.

Who are your Moses and Elijah? When you are facing tough times and, even though you believe you are following God, nothing is going the way it should, take your faith walk one step further.  Believe  your Heavenly Father will send someone to bolster you and remind you God provides. It may be an earthly soul who will pray you through it, or it may be only the two you need the most – Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit dwelling in you. Know you will not have to stand alone. Emanuel – God is with you.

 Questions: Who or what do you need to transfigure your faith right now? Or, if you don’t need that, to whom is God sending you to be their Moses or Elijah?

We will always experience suffering during our lives here on our fallen Earth. When we experience pain, especially the death of a loved one, our natural response is to question, to ask why, and perhaps even to doubt God. Because it hurts.

Some people will respond to evil they see by denying that evil exists. But what is perhaps easy to say is quite difficult to live, or as C S Lewis put it: “Whenever you find a man who says he does not believe in a real Right and Wrong, you will find the same man going back on this a moment later.” There is a name for the person who denies good and evil: a sociopath. Clearly the proper response to evil is not denial.

Other people will respond to evil by removing God from the equation. But removing God does not make evil less evil, nor pain less painful. In fact, removing God also removes ultimate hope. Without God, our world seems permanently and irredeemably evil. Without God, there is no ultimate relief from pain, only pain.

With God we cry out to a loving Father who remains with us and comforts us as we hurt and Himself came to Earth as a human being to suffer and die for us. But without God we cry out into the empty void of nothingness that neither hears our cry nor cares for our pain. Removing God results in no gain and much loss.

When we have God in our lives and hearts, we have hope during difficult times and comfort in the midst of tragedy. We have hope grounded in the fact of God’s mighty power, His limitless mercy, and everlasting love. No matter what happens, God loves us because God is love. And nothing can separate us from Him.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Question: What do you need to say to God today in prayer? What questions do you have to ask God?