Have you ever felt like you just wanted to quit this thing called the “great race” of life? That’s your spiritual legs ache and you would much rather sit on the side of the road and have a good pity party than take one more step. I certainly have. And then I think of my nephew Stu and his mom, Pat.
Stu ran cross-country when he was in high school, but the most exciting parts of the races was his mother cheering. At one particular race, my family and I stood on the sidelines, watching legs stretch, backs bend, and arms swing in an effort to warm up. Seventy anxious young men clustered around the starting line in ready position. The shot fired into the air and the herd of boys began their 3.1 mile run through the woods.
As soon as Stu’s foot left the starting position, his mother picked up her thirty-six-inch megaphone and began to yell louder than any woman I have ever heard.
“GO STU!” she cheered, not once but at ten second intervals. When he was out of sight, she ran to another strategic spot along the winding trail where the runners would eventually pass by. And even though the boys were nowhere in sight, Pat continued to cheer, “GO STU!”
After the race, I asked, “Stu, when you are running on that trail in the woods, can you hear your mother cheering for you?”
“Oh yes,” he answered. “I can hear her the whole way.”
“And what does that do for you?”
“It makes me not want to quit,” he replied. “When my legs ache and lungs burn, when I feel like I’m going to throw up, I hear my mom’s voice cheering for me and it makes me not want to stop.”
“Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:6-8). In other words, “You can do it! I believe in you!” Go. Preach. Heal. Raise. Cleanse.
Before His ascension He encouraged them again, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). I believe in you! You can do it! Go! Teach! Baptize!
Then in one startling statement of encouragement he said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father” (John 14:12).
Jesus wasn’t simply encouraging the disciples by telling them they would have an even greater reach than he had, he was encouraging you and me as well.
Paul tells us to encourage each other just as Jesus encouraged His disciples: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV).
A few years later, when my son became a cross-country runner, and I learned a few facts about a foot race. As you near the end of a race, your throat burns, your legs ache, and you whole body cries out for you to stop. That’s when friends and fans are the most valuable. Their encouragement helps you push through the pain to the finish.
That’s the power of a woman’s words. That’s the power of your words. An uplifting word, offered at the right moment, might make the difference between someone finishing well or collapsing along the way. Give it! Shout it! Cheer others on!
And here’s the bonus…Jesus is still cheering for you. As a matter of fact, you are surrounded by a whole cloud of heavenly witnesses that are cheering for you today (Hebrews 12:1-3). You go girl!
Father, thank You for the heavenly host that cheers for me every day. Thank You for cheering for me every day. Help me to be an encourager who cheers others on in the great race of life and not a discourager who trips them up. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
- Think of one person who has encouraged you and send them an email of gratitude.
- Think of one person that needs encouragement today and reach out with an encouraging word.
Leave a comment and share at least one person who has been an encouragement to you.
Have you listened to yourself lately? Did you know that your words are shaping the lives of those around you? That they are the mirrors in which others see themselves? Everyday we have a choice to speak life into the souls of people or suck the life right out of them. Which will it be? My book, The Power of a Woman’s Words: How the Words You Speak Shape the Lives of Others
is a game changer. Discover how to become a speaker of life and control our words. You can do it! Also has a companion Bible study. Perfect for women’s groups!
Comments 31
Janet has been my encourager my angel and I want to be there for her however I have tried with failure every time! God give me the patience of Job I want to desire to do your will always !
I enjoy your articles
Thank you
Thank you so much Sharon for this article. GOD has clearly “answered my prayer, my request” through the title of your devotional ” YOU GO GIRL!” and the content as a whole of the encouraging story you just have shared.
May GOD bless you more and more and use you more and more in bringing GOD’S GOOD NEWS of redemption, second chances and forgiveness to the whole wide world.
Your message really touched my heart today. I’ve been feeling a little unsettled lately and these words made a difference in my attitude.
Thank you for sharing!
Your book was a great encouragement to me! Thank you for writing it and for continuing to build women up. Sharon, you are a wonderful role model as I finally move forward in the mission that God has placed on my heart for many years, to encourage women.
Thank you Sharon for this wonderful message of encouragement. May God continue to bless you. I’m so thankful for the messages each day that give such guidance and support. This message shows how powerful and a gift our words can be to others.
Thank you for sharing this message.
Thanks for encouraging me..I badly needed it
Thank you Sharon for this encouragement word this morning. May you words be a blessing to call that hears it.
Thank you for your encouraging words. It truly is a blessing to read your articles on Jesus Christ our saviour Lord and King. Have a blessed day.
My husband is one if my encourager’s! I had get certification for a job at work and I failed two different tests and was so discouraged and just wanted to give up. He encouraged me and prayed for me and I passed one of the tests on the retake exam! I have one more to go but I know my husband will have his megaphone out reminding me I can do this.
My uncle Larry has always been the person that was at every parade I marched in (always behind the horses in my little white tennis shoes) taking pictures and whistling so loud I knew it was him, as I twirled and threw that baton as high as I could. At every dance recital, acrobat routine, learned to swim, even when I fell down and skinned my little knees on the oyster shell covered dirt road. As I grew up and had my own children he always listened to me and once again cheered me on. Now we live 1500 miles apart and though I don’t see him as he continues to battle cancer, I try to be that cheerleader for him. Today I was reminded I hadn’t gotten in touch with him in a while, thank you for reminding me to do just that. Thank you Father for putting my uncle in my life, I pray his baby granddaughter gets to have him for her cheerleader for a long long time, in Jesus name Amen.
Sharon keep up the great writing! Always enjoy reading and learning from you!
Thank you, Sharon, for your heart and your willingness to share all of your testimony to encourage us. Your written words have encouraged and blessed my soul many times. You Go Girl!! Continue on with the Message! Bless you.
Your article reminds me how powerful our words and attitudes are! Thank you for encouraging us to be an encouragment to others.
This is just what I needed I will remember to lift more people up every day
Thank you for this article. I have been so down the past few days. I feel miserable and I don’t know why. Not just physically but mentally and spiritually. Your article didn’t change my circumstances but is did change my attitude. I know who Hod is and I know what prayer can do. Thank you for the encouragement,
Thank you for the reminder of the power of our words, encouragement in particular as well as the reminder that God is our encourager. As my 17 yr old struggles with anxiety after finishing high school under Covid restrictions, doing routine things have become obstacles for her. I pray daily that she will callout to/reach for Him, the One who saves. 🙏
My friend Courtney is a constant encourager and cheerleader. Many years ago she insightfully reminded me that ‘God has called me to the hard’. It’s like she just knows when I’m tempted to give up on my business or uninspired to keep putting one foot in front of the other. I thank God for her presence in my life.
I am fighting ovarian cancer, suppose to be in the clear by now, caught this early. Things are not working as planned, it’s hard to not be well, it’s hard to depend on chemo drugs to live, but here we are. God and my PCP are my encouragement. With out them, I would be struggling more than I am. I know there are sooooo many lessons, for me, in this cancer journey!!!!! Pray with me that I might see and learn each lesson, for His will, not for mine! Your web sight is encouraging to me, I’m a strong person, most days, and on those off days, I pray God can lift me and carry me to a stronger me, I pray He will guide me, and comfort me in this crazy cancer journey!
Dear Vanessa
You can get through this journey with God’s grace and strength. I got through my cancer journey 9 1/2 years ago. Thank you Lord Jesus 🙏.
I will 🙏 pray for you Vanessa.
Be well
Remember
All of the cells in your body are listening to your thoughts.
Be healthy and be well and be happy 😊
💓💜❤💗
Lean into Him…He brought you to it and He will lead you through it. God Bless you.
My sister Sue has been a lifelong encourager for me. Praise the Lord for Sue!!!!
Encouraging one another is so important! I lead the GriefShare program at my church and love it. Easing the grief of those who have lost loved ones encourages me too. I have lost four family members and a dear friend over the past five years. It is a ministry of hope that builds bonds of compassion and love between all. It halves our sorrows and doubles our joys. Such a blessing!
Diana
THANK YOU,This was a Much Needed READ FOR ME. Thanks Again for the Encouragement.
This is awesome; I have shared those inspiring words with my groups “Any uplifting word offered at the right moment can help someone push through the pain to finish”!
Thankyou this encourages me by knowing I am getting cheered on at the sidelines I picture Jesus holding his hands out to me to come to him it pushes me through Amen
Thank you for this message, I really needed to hear every single word you said. After loosing my husband, life hasn’t been easy , everything was up side down but the word of God is healing my broken heart , your emails helps me to keep going and my sister Mercy stood with me from the day I lost my husband up to now she is a pillar of strength .
I appreciate all you share! It is an encouraging to me an others , Thankyou laura
Yea, for Sharon the ENCOURAGER!!!! GOD is surely smiling down on you!!!! God Bless! Regina