Revelations & Friendships––Part III
Thank you all for reading this blog. It’s my hope that the Tuesday post will be encouraging, uplifting, and inspirational. I’ve got some guest bloggers coming soon to the Tuesday post. But for today, I’m sticking with Revelations & Friendships. A friend encourages and supports. Be a friend today and strengthen the feeble knees and weak hands. Click to tweet #friendships #revelations
Last week, I said the first thing an encourager should do is check their own heart. This week, I want to look deeper into motivation. We checked our hearts, and our motive is good––or so we think.
Here’s something to think about. Have you ever “listened” to someone only to be able to say what you want to say, without really hearing what they’re saying? Guess what. A lot of us do that in our conversations, especially with friends and family. They know us best, and surely they’ll understand what we mean, won’t they?
Sometimes, we need to listen without response. The one good thing that Job’s three friends did was at the very beginning. They came. They sat. They were there. Even, and especially, in their silence, they offered support. Their mistake was to open their mouths––because what came out was condemnation, correction, and criticism. Each of them had an opinion as to why this had happened to Job.
They were all wrong. Because they were looking at it from a strictly human point of view. They had no idea that God was up to something, and that something was to test the faith of Job.
We all go through different tests of faith. One thing we should remember is that we need to listen to them. Really listen. If they need a shoulder to cry on, give it. If they need a hug, give it. Or a hand on the shoulder. Or a hopeful word. An encouraging word that will help them see past the circumstance they’re in.
Because they’re in the trenches of warfare for their heart. As someone outside of them, you can help them to see above the trench line. I once spent four hours trying to help a friend see above her trench line. It was exhausting, but there was a group of people she expected more from that she felt she was seeing. That soured her view of them, but she needed to work with them. Her attitude needed to see above the current circumstances she was in.
For the helper, stay above the trench line. If you must jump in to let them know you’re for them, remember to keep your eyes above the line. Because without your perspective, they won’t be able to see.
Keep above the trench line when helping someone through difficulty. Love them through it. Click to tweet. #friendships #revelations
Donna L.H. Smith 