I especially liked math in High School. It was an easy subject for me
because it made sense to me and I enjoyed solving problems. Whenever I
had a tough problem, I would go over it right before bed, and when I
woke up, I generally had the solution. At that time of my life, I loved
the concept of God, but I didn't really know Him. I only knew that He
loved me.
My grades in math were mostly very good. I realized,
however, that I could do better than what I was doing, and I decided to
aim for a perfect grade for my next term, a 10/10. I worked hard. I aced
all my quizzes and tests, but towards the end of the term, I made a
small mistake and ended up with a 9.5/10 on the assignment. Still, even
with this grade, I had a 9.9/10 average for the class. I was certain
that I would end with a 10/10.
When grades came out, I was
excited. Finally my perfect grade! When I opened the report card,
however, I was doomed for disappointment. I had a 9.5/10 in math...
It's quite silly at times what we aim for, but at that time of my
life it was important, so I approached my Math teacher about my grade. I
was shocked by his response: "No student deserves a 10/10. Only teachers
deserve 10/10."
I was completely discouraged. Being young at that
time, I decided that working hard was not worth it. I still earned good
grades, but no more 9.5/10.
It's quite easy to become
discouraged. What's even worse is if we are discouraging others. Our
Heavenly Father is not a God who discourages, He is an encourager.
Feeling alone? He is with us. Death in the family? He surrounds us with
His arms. Lost a job? He will sustain us, and even though a door has
been closed, He opens wide open windows of opportunities. He constantly
encourages is: "You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you
encourage them, and you listen to their cry." Psalm 10:17 (NIV)
The only one who discourages is the evil one: "The accuser of our
brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled
down." Revelation 12:10c (NIV)
Are we encouragers or
discouragers?
As for me and my house, we promote encouragement
alone.
Rob Chaffart
Encourager or Discourager? Dragon Tramps or Kingdom Heirs, Part 15
Today's Bible Verse:
"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as
you also are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NASB)
Encourager or Discourager? Dragon Tramps or Kingdom Heirs, Part 15
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