Hot weather does not bother me so long as I can feel a breeze. One of the hottest summers I can remember was 1987– not much of a breeze seemed to exist! I was entering my freshmen year of football camp. I readily admit I was intimidated! Our little high school was known for “good football”. I rode my bike to practice everyday that summer and was excited to be there, but was a little anxious to look around and see all these well-known athletes in our locker room as I was dealing with the heat, and then I learned “we little freshmen” were going to practice with the varsity for the first month of football camp. Back then, heat indexes were not monitored and frequent water breaks were discouraged! On top of that, we practiced everyday in “full gear.” Meaning, we were to wear all pads, we were going to condition (fancy way of saying we would run until we almost passed out), practice, and hit with extra weight on our bodies! The freshmen coach was Bobby Duvall and he was a spark of encouragement daily. He knew us freshmen were at the bottom of the totem poll so to speak and we were struggling. He constantly reminded us of these things, “You can do more than you think can,” or “Nothing is as bad as it seems.” Thirty-six years later, I am still clinging to these phrases when I find myself in choppy waters. I am still amazed at how at these “encouraging words” still resonate with me after all this time. This should remind us the power of words and the power of encouragement.
Jesus Christ, our Savior, continues to encourage us some two thousand years later! So many encouraging words from Jesus include:
John 14:27 says, “ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
John 14:1-4 says, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
A few days ago, Coach Duvall passed away. I once again find myself in the choppy waters of grief, confusion, and wishing I could hear his encouraging words once more. However, because of Jesus, I not only have an Advocate, a Friend, Someone who loves me, and but most importantly, Someone who gave His life me and everyone. Jesus declares He wants us to follow Him. On the days I long to hear encouraging words from someone who was very good to me, I am thankful I can read the words of the One who died for me…the encouragement of Jesus endures to eternity and cannot be measured!
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Let us live in such a way that we make it clear to whom we belong.
