“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

I do not like open heights. I can’t stand narrow balconies. And when driving across a bridge, you’ll find me hugging the rail along the inside lane.

A few years ago, some friends tried to help me conquer my fear of heights by inviting our family to an indoor rock-climbing center. My heart stopped as we entered the doors and I scanned the highest peak at 25 feet. The instructors assured me that a web of ropes and harnesses would hold me tight.  Before I could say “no thank you,” I was strapped in and signing an injury waiver.

Towards the end of the day our friends, John and Laura, asked their eight-year-old son Steven if he wanted to try to climb to the highest peak. Steven seemed a little hesitant, but when his dad offered game tokens and ice cream if he reached it, Steven took the challenge.

Although Steven wasn’t crazy about heights, he loved a dare. The promise of reward, mixed with the challenge and faith of his father, evoked courage in him.

I watched with admiration as Steven started the climb with confidence. He made it to 10 feet, then 15, then 20. But as he inched past the next face of the wall, he looked down. Realizing how high he was and how far he still had to go, he insisted he couldn’t do it.

By this time, John was holding their very tired and fussy 3-year-old and Laura was feeding their hungry baby girl. I don’t know where my brave husband was, but I quickly realized I was the only one standing there who could do something.

Suddenly courage and strength surged through my body and I called out, “Don’t give up buddy. You can do it. I’ll help you!”

In record time, I reached the 20-foot marker, crossed over the peak and up beside Steven to encourage him, reminding him of how far he’d come. I told him he could do it with God’s strength and that it would be worth it if he’d persevere. With my words and my confidence in him, I helped Steven turn his thoughts towards a higher goal, an inner peak, a reward much greater than ice cream and game tokens – the reward of getting to a place he had stopped believing he could reach.

I surprised myself. I had silenced the voices of my own fears by focusing on helping someone else overcome theirs. In that moment, I realized the same promises I was claiming for Steven were true for me, too. I could do it with God’s strength, and I did!

Each day we have the same opportunity. Like God did with Joshua in today’s key verse, and like He does with us, we can come alongside each other in some of life’s hardest challenges and highest peaks and say, “Don’t give up, you can do it. I’ll be with you and I will help you.”

Isn’t it amazing that when we take our eyes off our fears, our doubts, and our struggles and focus on someone else's needs, we somehow forget our own? In believing the power of God’s promises for others, our confidence in His promises for us seems to grow as well. And that my friend is the power of encouragement!
Lord, thank You for the power of Your words that give me courage to become who You’ve created me to be – to go to places You’re calling me to go and climb spiritual heights that are out of my reach without Your help. Give me Your encouragement and help me encourage someone else today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Related Resources:

The Power of a Purpose Driven Mom a message on CD by Renee Swope, about the importance of our words and God’s Word to help shape our kids’ character.

Rest Assured: How to Stop Worrying and Start Resting in God’s Promises message on CD by Renee Swope

Visit Renee’s Blog for “Encouraging Words Wednesday” to join in giving and receiving encouragement from women around the world. And enter to win an “Encouraging Words” gift pack.

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Application Steps:
Ask God to encourage your heart today with a promise from His Word that offers hope and power in the midst of your circumstances.

Be part of Encouraging Words Wednesday – a place where we commit once each month to encourage someone. Whether we write a note, leave a message, send an email or simply say something encouraging.

Encourage someone with God’s promises and a prayer. It could be the very thing they need today to overcome discouragement or defeat. Click here for some ideas.

Reflections:
How has someone’s encouraging words impacted my life in the past? How has God’s words of encouragement helped me do things I never thought I could?

Power Verses:
Psalm 69:32, "The humble will see their God at work and be glad.  Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.” (NLT)

Deuteronomy3:28, "But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see." (NIV)

Psalm 10:17, "You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry." (NIV)

© 2011 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.