LifeTrac with Chuck Swindoll is a presentation of Insight for Living Canada. I
worked hard through the week. So much so that by Friday I decided I would take most of the
day off and do something that I have never done in my 46 years on this planet--ski. (laughter)
Did I ever ski! Well, I think some would call it skiing, but most would say it bears
no resemblance to what should happen on the slopes. You have heard of the Elephant Man?
I am the Rhinoceros Man on the ski slopes. (laughter, sniffs) One of the reasons I stayed
at the task more than 15 minutes is because I had the world’s most patient kind of teacher.
This young woman just simply dedicated herself to the exhausting assignment of helping me learn how
to ski. What is interesting is that when I snapped on the skis I said to her, “I am going to be one
of the . . . one of the few people you ever taught to ski who never falls.” She laughed
out loud and said, “That will be great.” But I must tell you, I did not set that record. I set
other kinds of records, but that was not one of ‘em. I came down in a ball of . . . of . . . of
snow on one occasion. She said, “That’s not bad. That’s not (laughter) . . . that’s not
bad!” (laughter) It was dreadful, and she knew it! But she said, “That’s not bad.”
What is true of a novice on snow once a year is true continually among members of the family of
God. We need encouragement. Harassed by the world, bruised by worry and anxiety, broken by failure,
disappointed by defeat, bleeding because of sin, we come together, often giving off an air
of false confidence that says, “I don’t fall. I’m on my feet.” We dress well, we look good,
we respond positively to the things going on around us, and we give off that . . . that mask
that says, “Ha! I’ve got this thing wired. I’ve got life down to a skill.”
But in reality we fail, we tumble, we fall very, very badly. And we need one thing more than any
other thing, aside from contact with God, when we come together. We need encouragement.
We need somebody to say to us as they hold out a hand, “I believe in you.
Get up. Come on, let’s try it again. Let me reassure you. Let me help you.
Let me tell you some things that I observe that you really do well.”
Encourage. It’s a French word. Simply means “to put courage into.”
Webster says it means “to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope, to harken . . . to hearten,
to spur on, to stimulate.” And I do not care how influential,
how well-dressed, how mature, or how old any person is that comes for worship,
encouragement is always needed and appreciated, always.
There are many ways to encourage those around you. Even a word . . . spoken sincerely . . . can
lighten a load or lift the spirit. You can also be an encourager by the
way you live . . . by modelling integrity . . . kindness . . . and compassion.
This is Steve Johnson of Insight for Living Canada.
Listen to more of Chuck Swindoll’s LifeTrac messages at lifetrac dot C A.
LifeTrac. Where Life and Truth Meet The preceding LifeTrac presentation
was brought to you by Insight for Living Canada. The original message, "Strengthening Your Grip on
Encouragement," was copyrighted in 1980 and this LifeTrac sound recording was copyrighted in 2014
by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights are reserved worldwide.