Moving through the 2020 holiday season and now facing a new year, I have wondered what fresh and helpful words I could share. Yesterday, as I was pondering this, I got a vivid reminder that encouragement does not always come in verbal form.
The sun shone through the falling rain, and my daughter and I ran outside to look for a rainbow. We were not disappointed. Seeing the bright arc against the grey sky reminded me of what had given me hope during a dark time in my life. In that season it had seemed as if words—well-meaning ones spoken by friends, or even the words of Scripture—couldn’t quite penetrate the dusky cloud that surrounded me. However, one day the sight of an unusually bright, full rainbow stopped me in my tracks. Rainbows are the sign of God’s covenant to never again flood the whole earth, a promise to preserve life. When I saw that particular rainbow, I sensed it was God’s promise that our home would no longer be flooded with tears. It gave me hope, and as I saw more rainbows at important junctures along the way, I felt assured of God’s presence and faithfulness. In that spirit, I want to share this photo from yesterday, and hope it speaks to your heart.
In what non-verbal ways have you received, or been given, encouragement? We’d love to hear your stories.
With all best wishes for an ever-brightening 2021,
J.B.
