Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

What kind of nonsense is this? Somehow, our very lowest moments, our most shameful acts, our most selfish years…these things become our greatest assets.

No, not in themselves. The terror of where I came from still informs how I live today. But because I’ve been through a piece of darkness, I can relate with others who are just coming out of the fog.

What I was convinced would be a liability that I needed to move past and leave behind, has become a tool for guiding others.

We don’t dwell on the past for its own sake; given the choice, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But whatever our circumstance, we find that we can be helpful to the extent that we are willing to share with those in need.

Discretion is advised. A one on one conversation can delve deeper and into more specifics than a meeting may tolerate. And this is good.

Encouragement can be more impactful on the individual level, and we should look for opportunities to speak into our friends’ lives.

When did I last encourage someone? When do I actively seek the opportunity to build people up? Receiving strength through encouragement feels so good; I should orient my life around giving this back.

God, give me discretion and courage, and help me not hide behind either.