Encouragement Day

Encouragement. We all want to be encouraged. Especially when we run into the snags, rough terrain, and potholes of life. When the forward movement of our lives gets bogged down, slowed up or derailed.

One of our greatest sources of encouragement, one so close to us we may miss it, is those people we’ve personally known who lived a life faithful to God and his word through all their own snags, rough terrain and potholes of life. They were people just like you and me. Not perfect in the sense of sinless perfection. No. Just like us. Fallen, but picked up by Jesus, dusted off and given a gentle push in the right direction by the grace of God.

Saved, by grace.

They walked by faith. Sometimes tripping over the snags. Sometimes stumbling over the rough terrain. Even falling into the occasional pothole. But getting back up and starting out again. Getting back on track.

Saved. By grace. The gentle nudge of Jesus in the right direction.

They kept on walking by faith.

No excuses. We have none, you and I. We have this growing crowd (also called a cloud) of witnesses who have gone on before us, walking the trail of faith. We’ve read about it. We’ve seen it with our own eyes. People just like you and me.

How did they do it? They looked straight ahead. At Jesus. Our faith trail-blazer.

Then they threw off, with horror and loathing, as though they were snakes and they no herpetologists*, everything that hindered their steps! Every sin that snags and trips and derails … be gone!

Not once but every day. Riveting their eyes on the One they followed: Jesus.

The way of faith. The way of Encouragement. If they did it, so can I.

So can you.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I love you.


(Hebrews 11; 12: 1,2)

*A herpetologist is one who studies snakes and amphibians