An encouraging voice
I am so thankful for all of the encouraging voices in my life today. You may or may not know this, but a Pastor's life can be plagued with doubt. DOUBT CAN BE HUGE. I am no different. Doubt knocks on my door pretty regularly. Should I do this or should I do that, should I lead this way or lead the church that way. I know for some of us doubt can be literally paralyzing. We can't even move.... but then an encouraging voice can up speak and it is as if we have been set free, the fog of doubt rolls away just as fast as it came.
I've had contact recently with two former students of mine, who have both grown up into amazing young people with wildly different perspectives on life. One of these voices long since left the faith and the church of her youth. For her I'd imagine there was too much cognitive dissonance. The story of Christian faith ultimately did not stand up to her examinations. What I find interesting is that this person is still an encouraging voice to me. Her questions and our conversations reveal truths hidden in both of us. She may not have known it but those conversations still encouage me. We both enjoy honest and unfiltered conversation even though we come to very different conclusions.
Another voice also chimed in online and she let me know how important what I was posting and what our church was doing, especially online and on social media, for her and her spouse. She had the courage to actually tell me. She may not have known it but she spoke words hope and promise into my heart and helped refill my courage tank.
I think that church people have been known by our world for far too long as critics, complainers and discouragers. When look at Jesus I do not see those qualities. When I look to Jesus I see him as a companion, equipper and most of all an encourager. I would like to invite you to consider a change in life direction. Let us all begin to move toward being encouragers, equippers and compainions for all of God's people. For those who believe and for those yet to believe.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
God's Love is Always True
Pastor Mike
