What is life without unexpected surprises? Wondering what’s around the corner? Life leaves us pretty beat up sometimes from the most unexpected people and situations. Look at David with Saul. David went from being favored by Saul, to running for his life from Saul. That was unexpected.
Sometimes, really all the time, we need assurance from others around us. Just like Jonathan with David. We all need a Jonathan or two in our lives. My encouragers are people like my wife Carmen, my Mentor Keith Gaddis and his wife Bridget, my kids, John and Michelle, one of the most loyal guys ever Todd House, and many others I have been blessed with that God has placed around me over the years.
I Samuel 18:1-4
18 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return home to his family. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow, and his belt.
Jonathan modeled the character of encouragement (20:1-4, 32-34). And when David had nothing to give in return, in his toughest of times, even when others had abandoned him, Jonathan was there. Amazingly he was there in spite of great personal risk and was willing to stand with him and protect him. By giving his robe, tunic, sword, and belt to David, Jonathan is symbolically giving David his own right to succeed his father, Saul, on the throne.
Encouragement in the good times shows care and thoughtfulness. Encouragement in tough times reflects character.
Friends
In my work with teenagers in my early years, I did a lot of fun, adventurous trips and activities. But my favorite part was, as I built relationships with them.
One of my favorite annual seminars I would do on the Spring Break trips was simply called “Friends.” The teens would have several options in the breakout sessions, but they “heard” about Friends from past groups, so they would crowd into the room to be a part of this one.
Thank You
It was simple. As the circle of chairs was filled and standing room only behind the circle, there was an empty chair in the middle. I would play the song “Thank You for Being a Friend” by Andrew Gold. Some of you may be old enough to remember that song.
During the song, everyone was to listen and instructed to ‘think about someone who had been a friend to you during the toughest of times.’ So when the song was over, teens were encouraged to share who they would put in that chair (center stage). Now who was the person that was THAT friend to them when nobody else was there, during their toughest times?
Forever, If the Lord is Lord of Them
Then the hard part was, in front of the group, they had to talk to that person as if that person was sitting in the chair. Now they had to share the story when that person stuck by them closer than a friend, and then end by saying, “Thank you _______, for being a friend.”
My oh my, the stories that were shared during those times, and the courage it took to share them. When everyone had shared, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the room, I would end the time with Michael W. Smith’s song, “Friends” are friends forever, if the Lord is Lord of them.’
Challenge of the Week
Reflect on who was an encouragement to you in your life. Who would you put in that chair? Now go and thank them for it. Here is an even bigger question – Who have you been an encouragement to so much so, that they would put you in that chair? Go and do it. So be it.
Bonus Song:
Thank You For Being a Friend, by Andrew Gold
