One final word on Encouragement as we wrap up our focus on “National Encouragement Week”.

Do you know someone going through something tragic? Maybe a job loss? A marriage crisis? Overcoming an addiction? Even a death?

What do you say to that friend or co-worker? Are you afraid to bring it up? So, you just walk on eggshells, right?

I spent some time this morning with a close friend who is going through a very difficult season. He commented on how uncomfortable it is for him because he knows that most people at work know about his situation, but they are afraid to say something. They just walk on eggshells around him.

He said he received a phone call from a co-worker recently who said, “I know about your situation. And I just want to tell you I’m here if there is anything I can do for you.” That was it. No advice. No questions. No probing.

I certainly don’t want to tell you how you should handle your particular situation. I struggle with this just like you do. But, this is what I feel God has been trying to teach me recently.  Go to their office, or call them, or email them, or text them…and simply encourage them. David, don’t worry that you might say the wrong thing…just say something.

Our opportunity to influence lives at work is so much bigger than most of us can fathom. Let’s be great ENCOURAGERS.

“…but let us encourage one another…”      Hebrews 10:25

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You have been there.  Probably more times than you would like to think.  Feeling that you are just working day in, day out and no one really cares about you.  Just get the work done. All that really matters is the almighty dollar.  Did you close the deal? Is the project going to pay for itself?  Run those numbers again, but do it with the following three unlikely scenarios, just in case. 

You just want to smack something in frustration.  There is no one who seems to care  about who you are or what you think.

There is alot of that going around today.  I hear about things like this almost every day.  There is such a mindset in the marketplace today that seems to say, “Just do your job and be lucky you have a job….there are many others who would love to have your position.”

What will distinguish us from the rest of the workplace is having the sensitivity and the ability to rise above the crowd and provide something different to those working around you.  If we can be just a little more aware of what most of the workplace is feeling, we will make a huge difference.  Encouragement is in such short supply today that even a little will make a significant and lasting difference.

Knowing what it feels like to not get it at times should make us all the more aware of how important it is to hear a encouraging word or to have someone ask about what might be going on in your life outside of work.  As Christ followers, lets go just a little farther and learn to courageously reach out and be the source of encouragement to those around us. 

How much of a difference would it make in your day to have someone speak a truly encouraging word to you?  Would probably make your day, wouldn’t it?  Lets all make a special effort this week to speak up and use our influence to  make a difference in someones day by telling them how much we appreciate what they are doing and the efforts they are making for the organization.

Acts 13:15  After the usual readings from the books of Moses and the prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message. “Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, come and give it.”

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“A river reaches places which its source never knows.”

That, is a powerful statement from Oswald Chambers’ classic book “My Utmost For His Highest”. Marry that thought with these words from Jesus. “Whoever believes in me…streams of living water will flow from within him.”

This past weekend, my 9 year old son Tyler and I went canoeing on one of the most beautiful rivers in the United States, the Buffalo National River. I grew up paddling this river and it’s a place where God whispers from 200 foot bluffs and pristine white water.

I love the mental image of a flowing river as we talk this week about the word Encouragement. On the surface, encouragement feels like a linear transaction. You take the time or make the effort to sincerely encourage a friend or a co-worker. He or she is impacted positively (hopefully) by that transaction. But now, consider the “streams of living water” and that linear transaction now has an exponential feel to it. The river reaches places which its source never knows!

As believers (“Whoever believes in me”), Jesus promises us that “streams of living water will flow from within us”. And, it seems to me that encouragement is one of the most powerful ways we can do that.

As we navigate the difficult waters of this economy, let’s be encouragers. Let’s pray and see who God would point us to that needs a phone call or a cup of coffee. Who knows what place THAT river will reach.

“Whoever believes in me…streams of living water will flow from within him.”

John 7:38

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You know someone, don’t you? Someone whose work, or lack thereof, has them in a very difficult place. Maybe it’s you. Maybe it’s a close friend. Or maybe it’s simply an acquaintance or co-worker.

These are serious, serious economic times we are living through. Everywhere I look, people’s lives are being impacted. Some people are simply tightening their belts at home. Others are living day-to-day with deep anxiety over their businesses or jobs. Still others have already lost their jobs. In just the last few days, I have had a friend email me with news that his office had been abruptly shut down; had a good friend and business leader lose his job in a downsizing; and, a close friend who is in the middle of an anxiety riddled dogfight trying to make decisions about the future of his business.

My intention is not to completely discourage you. In fact, it’s just the opposite. I want to propose that this week be National Encouragement Week (N.E.W.)! I want to invite every person reading this blog to find at least one person this week who is really struggling with their work…and find a way to encourage them. Maybe it’s your boss, a peer, or a good friend. But be intentional about encouraging at least one person this week (maybe more). Meet them for a coffee on the way to work. Or send them an email or card in the mail. You would be amazed at the power of a simple text message.

Influence is such a potent weapon. We can influence people’s lives in powerful ways by merely slowing down long enough to encourage a friend. Truett Cathy, founder of Chick-fil-A once said, “How do you identify someone who needs encouragement? That person is breathing.”

We are in difficult economic times. Let’s make this week a N.E.W.!

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…”
1 Thessalonians 5:11

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