The Opportunity of Social Distancing

This whole social distancing thing takes some getting used to doesn’t it? 

Whether you live somewhere where you’re in lockdown, or you just have to maintain a safe distance, it really is quite jarring to be so separated from other people. 

But I wonder whether God isn’t, in the middle of all of this, handing you and me an opportunity.

We all like hanging around with people who encourage us. I have a friend called Keith. Now Keith is often late for meetings, in fact sometimes he forgets completely. And when he does show up a cup of coffee seems to take twice as long with him as with anyone else. 

But let me tell you, I always walk away from time with him feeling so encouraged. He just has this way about him of lifting you up with kind words.

In these strange days in which we find ourselves, many feeling isolated, many feeling worried or depressed, God is handing you and me the opportunity of being a great encourager.

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up.

I wonder, who could you be encouraging today? 

Let’s face it, we have so much technology at our fingertips that in these days of social distancing, we’re more than capable of picking up the phone and sharing an encouraging word with someone. 

Encouragement. 

It’s a simple act of love that won’t soon be forgotten. How about it?

Life Application Questions:

• How do you feel when someone else encourages you?
• Are you someone who naturally speaks words of encouragement into the lives of others? If not ... why might that be, do you think?
• As you think about the goodness of God in your life right now, what words of encouragement for someone else come to mind?
• As you pray for the people around you, whom is God leading you to by His Spirit, to speak words of encouragement into their hearts?