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February 16, 2017 |
“Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.’” Acts 3:6a (NIV)
When my baby sister died tragically and unexpectedly, my entire world flipped upside down. It was a very dark season of my life.
What I once knew to be true suddenly became questionable.
Is God good? If so, why this? And if I never know why, how can I ever trust God again?
Hard questions. Honest questions. Questions that haunted me.
Until one day, I got a note from a friend. A girl I not-so-affectionately called my "Bible friend." She honestly got on my nerves with all her Bible verse quoting. I wasn’t on good terms with God at that point in my life. I didn’t want to believe God even existed. And I certainly wasn’t reading the Bible.
I made all of this very known to my Bible friend. But in her gentle, sweet, kind way … she kept slipping me notes of truth with gently woven verses tucked within. And one day, one verse cracked the dam of my soul. Truth slipped in and split my hardhearted views of life open, just enough for God to make Himself known to me.
I held that simple note with one Bible verse scribbled on the front as the tears of honest need streamed down my cheeks. My stiff knees bent. And a whispered, "Yes, God," changed the course of my life.
My “Bible friend” had reached me. And because of her, I’m determined to use my words as a gift to others who may be in hard places … like a friend of mine who recently told me she is struggling with feeling like she has no real purpose.
Life rushes at her each day with overwhelming demands. Everything feels hard, with very little reprieve.
If ever there were a drowning with no water involved, this is where my friend is. Maybe you have a hurting friend, too.
So I sat down to write my friend a card and send her a little gift. I desperately wanted to love her through my words. My heart was full of care, compassion and a strong desire to encourage, but I struggled to translate all I felt on paper.
As I prayed about it, the word “loved” kept coming to mind.
Remind her she is loved. Remind her how much you respect her. Remind her that she is a woman who has so much to offer. Remind her she is valuable and she is enough.
In Acts 3, Peter and John encountered a crippled man at the temple gate called Beautiful. They stopped. They noticed. They decided to touch. Riches weren’t available to them but the ability to value was.
As our key verse of Acts 3:6-7a says, “‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up …”
Peter and John didn’t have silver, but they had a hand to offer and value to give. The man in need was worth touching. The hurting one in need was a man who needed someone to see him as a man. The man in need had so much to offer. After he got up, he went into the temple courts, praising God and stirring up wonder and amazement about God.
I want my friend to remember she, too, has praise left inside her for our God. She, too, can get up. She, too, can stir up amazement and wonder about our God.
Yes, she is loved and God has a good plan for her. I want to help her see that, just like my “Bible friend” did for me all those years ago.
I will never doubt the power of one woman reaching into the life of another woman with some written whispers of love.
Dear Lord, I’m so thankful for the relationships You’ve placed in my life. Would You help me discern what encouraging words my friend needs to hear today? I want to show her Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (NIV)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Have you ever found yourself wrestling with hard questions about God? God isn’t afraid of our spiritual wrestling. As a matter of fact, He wants to step in and see us through it. Join Lysa TerKeurst in her new study Finding I AM to explore the seven I AM statements of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. Through this interactive, in-depth study, you will gain a better understanding of how Jesus' words from 2,000 years ago are so very applicable to the answers we are searching for today. You can order your copy here today.
CONNECT:
Find real-life encouragement when you connect with Lysa here on Instagram.
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
Which friend comes to mind when you think of someone who needs some encouragement? Ask the Lord to give you specific words for her in this season of life, as you write a note to her this week.
© 2017 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
630 Team Rd., Suite 100
Matthews, NC 28105
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Thursday, 16 February 2017.
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