Today, after a week of dazzling sunshine, it has been overcast and we have seen some rain. It makes me ponder the need for equal doses of sunshine and rain to make things grow. Both are needful; both are not equally welcomed, as a rule!

When it’s cloudy, it’s easy to feel downcast and to wonder where the sun has gone! Rationally, we may know it’s still there, but we miss its warming presence. We can feel like that with God too. The warmth of His presence encourages us and blesses us, but when darkness seems to hide His face, we feel alone, bereft, vulnerable. The Bible assures us He will never leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5), but an absence of light so often leaves us floundering.

Into this situation, what is our lifeline to God’s light? Nicky Gumbel says of encouragement that it ‘is like verbal sunshine. It costs nothing and warms other people’s hearts and inspires them with hope and confidence in their faith.’ (BIOY)

This is one reason we are encouraged to keep on meeting together, so that we may spur one another on positively and build each other up (Heb 10:24-25, 1 Thess 5:11). Everyone is prone to discouragement and disappointment; people are facing situations we know nothing about and there is no one who does not benefit from encouragement. A smile, a kindly gesture, words of affirmation and encouragement, are like vitamins to the soul.

Barnabas, known as the ‘son of encouragement’, is an inspiration to us in this regard. He spent a year in Antioch where ‘he encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.’ (Acts 11:23-24) May we all do this every day.