It started with a simple email:
“I’m a pastor’s wife and along with the rest of the elder’s wives in our local church we are facilitating some of the women’s ministry. I realise this is a far stretch … but I’m taking a chance that you may be able to come and spend a week or so in South Africa and in particular address the women at our annual weekend away.”
That email arrived in my inbox at the end of December. Less than seven months and a handful of Zoom calls later, I traveled from Denver, Colorado to Johannesburg, South Africa, where I spent half the month of July connecting with these women along with several other churches and ministries throughout the country. By the time I boarded my plane to return home, I was both exhausted and elated.
I have never felt so encouraged and excited about the global church. The headlines might be full of bad news, but the Good News is alive and thriving. And what God is doing in and through His Bride all over the globe is nothing short of spectacular.
You should know, this was my third trip to South Africa. Nothing magical happened, no signs in the sky or dead bodies raised back to life. And yet, in the two weeks I spent sharing my story and listening to the stories of so many others, I experienced something miraculous just the same. For in the simple act of coming together, joined in our love of Jesus and desire to follow Him all the days of our lives, something divine and truly extraordinary happened:
We encouraged each other.
I know, I know. You were hoping for something more dramatic and eye-popping. “Encouragement” sounds so ordinary. But don’t be misinformed: Encouragement IS dramatic. Even better, it is holy.
“After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,
where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them.”
Acts 16:40 NIV
At the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Paul and Silas traveled to Philippi to share the Good News of Jesus with the people there. On the Sabbath, they went outside the city gate to a place they believed to be a gathering spot for prayer. They shared the Gospel with those they met, and many became followers of Jesus including a woman named Lydia. Some time after, Paul and Silas land in jail. After an earthquake, more Gospel-preaching, and many conversions (including the jailer!), Paul and Silas are released. And what do they do first? “They went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them.”
The Greek word Luke uses here for “encouraged” is parakaleo, which is the combination of two Greek words: para, which means to the side of, and kaleo, which is to call. Combined, they create this two-sided interaction in which one person calls another for help and the other person responds by coming to their side and offering what is needed most: comfort, exhortation, consolation, and encouragement. Parakaleo is a powerful and significant word. In fact, Jesus calls the Holy Spirit our paraklete, a derivative of parakaleo.
(Go ahead and read that again.)
When you and I ask for help AND when you and I come to the side of each other in response to that call, we partner with the Holy Spirit, God’s presence in and with us.
Encouragement is an expression of the trinity, a way for us mere mortals in the middle of challenging circumstances to bear witness with each other to the extraordinary activity of God. As a result? Hearts so weary they are near dead are brought back to life. Faith long crippled and weak discovers new strength to stand tall. Like Paul, Silas, and the believers at Lydia’s home. All because of this extraordinary exchange called parakaleo:
The Miracle of Encouragement.
Sometimes I think we make church far more complicated than it needs to be. We create big events and develop complex programs. We wear ourselves out trying to make all of our words loud and ministries shiny. I wonder if what our world truly needs might be far more simple:
Encouragement.
A willingness to drop everything else and come to the side of anyone needing a hand. Spending time in each other’s homes, sharing our stories, one day, one moment at a time, until our faith flies like a flag, waving hope to all the nations.
Be encouraged, friends. I’m standing at your side today as a reminder that you are not alone. God sees you, loves you, and is not finished with you. Have courage.
Now, find someone else who needs to hear that, too.
Michele,
Powerful and beautiful word: parakaleo.
I read the article twice before forwarding it to those who have been my parakaleo.
Thank you for using your gift of writing to encourage others.
I’m so glad it encouraged you, Brenda!
Beautiful!
🙂 Hope you have a wonderful day, Felicia!
thankyou for the inspiring story emphasizing encouragement to others. Often times I find myself discouraged by worldly events, then I turn to Jesus and pray and then encourage my family in positive ways and everything is more positive
I feel the same, Karen. Some days world events and even the events in my own community leave me feeling overwhelmed. Thank heavens for good friends who know how to offer encouragement!
Michelle,
You are so right! Encouragement is incredibly extraordinary and powerful! Thank you for sharing. Because I believe it will help others I’ve shared your devotion x2!
Sending you Joy,
Lisa Wilt
It’s incredible that something so simple (and relatively easy!) carries such weight and influence! May our eyes and ears be open to the opportunities for encouragement all around us today.
Wonderful, soul lifting words that comfort and encourage. Thanks so much, Michele! Will be forwarding your blog !
Be encouraged, Nancy! Grateful for you!
Dear Michele…….I loved your story today. At first I thought it would not be for me, but I have discovered with the (in) community, do not stop reading as there is many more words until maybe we understand and I did just that today. I am 77 years old and it is going to be so humid and hot (106) that they are really saying we should not go out especially the senior people which is where I live in a facility of over 100 people. I am facing so many serious, complicated situations, paraklete is who I depend on so much. I love the name that you gave us. Here is where your story really brought some questions to my mind. Encouragement is something I have always done. I worked as a manager for 45 years and I learned from all my previous jobs how to manage most any problem; however, this facility, is mostly people in their 80’s, 90’s and 100’s so they look at me as the baby. When you have worked as many years as I have, you realize that at 40 years old, I did not know even half of what I eventually did. Many younger people we have found just think we are old and know nothing. I pray to Jesus frequently each day and read many of the (in) books that I have and have learned even more. What is discouraging to me is that many of the residents here do not want to hear encouraging words. I have always been able to cheer people up or tell them I will help them, but this place that I live in just fired all their managers and the number 1 rule is do NOT try to help anyone. This just does not agree with my philosophy. It is supposed to be Independent living, but they have left people live here as long as they have the money. The managers had no training and I tried nicely to help them. That did not go well, but they were too young and the top manager did not communicate at all, which is really the key here to success. Instead of us being encouraged, we have all been discouraged and now with no managers, we have no idea what to expect. So your story is so encouraging to me as I know that I needed to turn to Jesus for help and I cast these problems at His feet. I know that answers or solutions take a long time, but I feel so badly for the residents here. My Holy Spirit does so much to help me and interestingly enough, many people here are religious and believe, but they don’t seem to even know what the Holy Spirit is and I try to explain to them what He is. Many have dementia and forget what I have told them, so Michele, I want to thank you for your story and I will read it again today after lunch so I didn’t miss something the first time. One more thing, I have 4 super, serious, complicated situations that after 18 months have still not been solved and my husband has dementia (violent kind) and is living in a different place and my 1 son, 2 years ago called and told me he no longer considered me his mother and I could never see my 1 grandson or speak to him, ever again and he hung up. This has been a heartbreaking thing to me, and after 2 years, still no communication. I have no other family so no one to encourage me. My fiends have left me too as they don’t know what else to say to me to encourage me. I do not know why they feel they always have to talk about this. I would be happy to just have a “Normal” conversation and ask them how THEY are. As usual, I have gone on too long, so again, I thank you Michele for your devotion and I send you my prayers and love for how your community helps us. Please have Blessed Day~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Betsy Basile
Oh, Betsy. I am so sorry for your suffering. My heart aches with yours. Please know this: You have a community of friends here. You are always welcome at this table. We can’t take away your pain, but we can sit with you in it. Not alone.
Dear Michele…….Thank you so much for your kind reply to my long email. Sometimes I just need to vent, but I really appreciate you inviting me to your table. It means a lot to me and if I were younger and knew more about all the techy stuff, I would join your group for the podcasts, but I do not have any sites on Social Media as 4 years ago I was scammed for $30,000 that I did not get back. They closed my Instagram account for some reason and I do not even know how to get on one of those sites. My husband refused to allow me to get a computer or cell phone as he wanted to know what I was doing all the time. Thank you once again for your kind words back to me……………Betsy
Aw, Michele! This is good news! Thank you for sharing it!
GOOD NEWS! 🙂
Michelle, thank you for an awesome devotion! I am helping to lead our church’s Women’s Retreat this Fall and our theme is “Bubbling Over With Jesus’ Love”. I will be sharing your thoughts of wisdom written here with our ladies. How better to share the love of Jesus than through encouragement? Praise God! ❤️
Ohhh I’m so glad, Ellen! Thank you for leading and loving others so well. We need you! Press on, sister.
I love how you’ve framed encouragement as a miracle and how simple it really is. Thanks for being an encouragement to me today as I’ve read your words.
A miracle we get to be a part of! What a gift!
This is so encouraging Michelle, thank you so much for letting us know that there is hope out there.
You’re so welcome, Dale. Hope you have a beautiful Wednesday. 🙂
So powerful, Michelle! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the reminder to be encouraged. We can hear that word a lot but we don’t fully absorb it sometimes.
Michele,
My church encourages us all the time! We pray for each other & offer support. The best act they do is care for my MIL. Once a week they have a Bible study at her house-she is no longer able to attend church. We are always taking food to her. When we have a meal at church someone makes sure to get plates for miss Marvella. Her husband was an elder at the church. Talk about encouragement.
You will often hear me say positive words to my co-workers, patients & their families. I want them to feel inspired, blessed & uplifted. My way of sharing God’s love to them all!
Blessings 🙂