“A word spoken at the right time is like gold apples in silver settings.”-Proverbs 25:11
Imagine this scenario with me — It's been a difficult day. Seemingly, everything has gone wrong. You slept through your alarm and wake up late for work. You spilled coffee on your brand new shirt. Your typically reliable truck just wouldn't start today. In the midst of it all, you realized that you forgot an appointment that you had scheduled. To top it off, you can't find your wallet! You're discouraged and disheartened...you get the point. This may not be exactly what you have experienced, but all of us will walk through trying days like this, varying difficult circumstances, and frustratiing seasons.
Now picture that right in the thick of whatever trouble you’re walking through, you get a text message from someone who cares about you. They reiterate to you that you are loved, or you're not alone, or that they were just thinking and praying for you, or they just felt led to check on you, that God loves you and is with you and will get you through this hard time. You hear these refreshing words, and it’s like a cool cup of water in the midst of a dry, hot drought. The simple text message was just what you needed and your spirit is lifted. Have you ever experienced these kind of timely words from another?
There is so much power in, "A word spoken at the right time..." When it happens, it’s just flat-out beautiful! Receiving timely advice is more beneficial than can be fully described. What's even more lovely than receiving, is to be used by God to give, to speak the timely encouragement to someone else, to say the right words in the right way just when one needed it. This is why it’s so important we be reminded that God chooses to often work through His children (that’s you and me!) to share a well-timed word with another. It could be some encouragement given when one is discouraged. It might be sharing a word of hope when another feels hopeless. Perhaps someone needs to be spurred on and the words you share put some "steel in their bones" to follow through with something. It could even be a kind, corrective word that helps another get back on track...The truth is, God doesn’t need us, but He does love to work through us. And what a joy it is for us to be used by Him to speak words of life to someone else!
Are we available? Are we willing to be used by God? Are we praying for opportunities and then watching for how we can respond? Lord, please use us to speak words to others that are beneficial for the occasion. All for Your glory and their good! In Jesus' name, Amen.
Cheer Up, friends!
-Scott