allume

real light living

Why Encouragement Works

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Encourage one another.

It seems so simple, doesn’t it? Would you like to know a secret? It has been the single most effective way for me to build my blog.

And also required the heaviest sifting of my heart to find.

It has brought me the most joy and has found me more often than not on my knees before the Father in tears. I have had to put my selfish pride behind me and do things – in blogging, online communities, and real life – that bring glory to God. And it’s hard.

My natural tendency is to strive. To have a goal and do everything in my power to make it happen. When it works, my pride grows. When it fails, my pride suffers and I become insecure, comparing and wondering why it worked for “her” but not me. And that, sweet friends, is an ugly path I have traveled down far too often.

It is only by the grace of God, a powerful refining, and a softened heart that I now know the full joy of offering praise for the success of others. It’s not always easy. It takes practice, reaching out to someone and celebrating their achievement when you wish it was yours. In a world where competition is the norm and women are expected to be catty, not congratulatory, it takes practice.

But I can promise you this. When you go out of your way to share someone else’s amazing blog post, leave an encouraging comment for a blogger you admire, or send another writer information about an opportunity you think they would be perfect for, you are doing a hard thing. You are choosing not to keep it all for yourself, you are choosing to admit that you are not the only one who can do this thing and you showing this world that Christ’s light shines brightly when we live for Him and not ourselves. As I’ve opened my heart to those around me, as I’ve joined community and sought ways to encourage others, He has blessed me in incredible and unexpected ways.

Today, my amazing writing friends, let’s give God the opportunity to poke some holes in our pride so He has more room to shine. Be a light. Love one another the way Christ has commanded us to and take this “light living” from the pages of Scripture to the screens of blogs and out into our daily lives.

Encourage one another.

Who is God calling you to encourage today?

Crystal Stine
http://www.crystalstine.me

Comments

  1. Oh Crystal, I love your beautiful heart. I’ve been on this journey of growing my blog as encouraged others; yet at the same time having to contend with feelings of being overlooked, less than, inadequate. But I keep sharing, reposting, liking, inviting guests because I know that this will encourage their hearts. We are all in this big world of blogging together. We need each other to spur us on to greatness!

    • Barbie, you are such a gifted encourager and a wonderful writer – thank you for pouring into the lives of others. I can promise it will come back to you..sometimes not as we expect, and usually not when we want it to, but girl…you’re doing a hard thing and I just love you for it 🙂

  2. Thank you so much for this. I still wonder if I should blog because of lack of interest in it and because I have nothing new to add. You know, someone else has said what I say~~ and even better. Wether or not I blog, I encourage. The way I see it, I can’t be the only person who was blessed by a blog post, so I need to encourage them and tell them what it meant to me.

    • You know, that’s a very hard place to be in. Pretty much every single time I post here, someone “bigger” on another blog tends to post almost the exact same thing! But your voice is unique, your audience will be different, and the way you communicate the message will be perfectly “you” – if you honestly feel that God is leading you to write, then write, sister! But if you spend time with the Lord and He’s not calling you to blog? That’s ok too 🙂 He has a special plan & purpose for the gifts and strengths He’s breathed into you – spend time with Him and ask Him to reveal it 🙂

    • *muah* do you know what I love? That this year, if I see you at Allume (you’re going, right?) I won’t be so nervous to talk to you! I count you as a sweet friend and am so incredibly excited to see what God is doing through you and “To Walk or Stay” – you inspire me 🙂

    • Your comments are like a sweet hug. It’s friends like you who pour into me daily and make this encouragement thing so much easier 🙂

  7. Oh, and here I thought I was the only one thinking and feeling these things. It’s good to know I am not alone – lol! Thanks for the encouraging words.

  8. Crystal,

    You are very perceptive, and authentically honest in stating what is true for so many of us on this writing journey. Your ideas for encouragement are wonderful! In still trying to navigate my way through this cyber world, I am excited to learn how I can build community in such a natural way….thanks a bunch!

    • Crystal (awesome name, btw …wink..) so glad you found something useful in this 🙂 If you focus on applying your same God-given “in real life” strengths to your interactions online, you’ll find the right community 🙂

  9. Crystal!
    Thank you! Thank you for having the courage to encourage others:-) It is so wonderful to know there are women who love to encourage and I am not alone. You are one who has given me the courage to do the same! It feels wonderful! Whats even better is that we don’t even know each other and you have made such a difference in my life! Thank you!

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