Discouraged Friend
- Gayle J. Thorn
- May 5, 2017
- 2 min read
Bible Reading: Philippians 2:25-29
Do you feel like there are times that you would like to encourage a downhearted friend but don’t know where to begin?
In Philippians 2:28 Paul said, “Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.” Apostle Paul knew a few things about how to raise a friend’s spirit. If you read the rest of the verses surrounding today’s scripture (Philippians 2:25-29) you’ll find that Paul’s friend, Epaphroditus, had been ill. As a result, Epaphroditus’ friends had been worried and discouraged. Now that Epaphroditus was well enough to travel, Paul was sending him to see his friends. Paul knew that sometimes just being there is enough, that just seeing someone you love, being in the same room with him can make a heavy heart lighter.
Later, in the same letter, (Philippians 4:14) Paul thanks these friends for the gifts that they had recently sent him saying, “…it was good of you to share in my troubles.” Paul wanted his friends to know that while they couldn’t be in the same room with him, their gifts had told him that they truly cared about him and that their thoughts were with him. In other words, their thoughts had been enough to brighten the darkness of his day.
There you have it.
Whether you are in the same room or somewhere far away, comforting words and kind actions are wonderful ways to encourage a discouraged friend.
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Prayer: Father, give me the right words or actions to help bring a spark of happiness to my downhearted friend. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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