The Ultimate Encourager

 Do you know what I love about most animated children’s movies?  

The main characters are often friends with animals. 

We are a society that LOVES our pets.  We talk to our pets and treat them like our friends and family. 

These fictional animals usually talk back, hold conversations and develop precious friendships with the main characters, just like we wish our own pets could. Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, and so many more heroes and heroines were encouraged throughout their journeys by their funny animal friends. 

Summer 2024, I thought I was just like one of those characters.  Though the animals did not talk to me (Trust me. I tried), they just showed up daily during a very unsettled time in my life. It did not matter where I was in the country, the animals would show up to brighten my day.  The fact the animals did not have a healthy sense of fear when I was close by was both delightful and perplexing.   I tried explaining to two little fawns who often played close to me when I was on the patio, they were going to need to learn to be a little more careful out in the world beyond the backyard. However, they ignored me and just kept frolicking around. 

I did not notice the anomaly at first. A bright red cardinal sat itself on a branch I could almost touch. A butterfly landed on the armrest of the lawn chair where I was sitting. When the local bunnies, a groundhog and many other beautiful birds joined the local deer in visiting me, I realized something special was happening. Even when I was on a business trip I came close to exotic birds, walked under a huge eagles nest with the eagle in it and hung out with the turtles who seemed to want to say hello. 

It was such a gift that summer. I really needed to be encouraged to not give way to fear. .

God saw my stress tears as I cried out to Him to work out our circumstances. 

“Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise up to show you compassion.

For the LORD  is a God of justice. 

Blessed are all who wait for Him!”  (Isaiah 30:18)

The waiting part is the challenge.  

However….. 

God is the Ultimate Encourager!

He loves us and knows exactly what will uplift and delight us while we wait.  

For me, it was the animals. My friend, Shannon, sees coins right in front of her whenever she needs to know God is near.  She calls them her “pennies  from heaven”. God places change for her to find in just the right places at just the right times. Even when traveling internationally this summer, she found coins along her journey to remind her she is loved and God cares for her. 

The Father of compassion knows exactly how to encourage you in ways no human is able. Isaiah 30:18 says he “LONGS” to show you compassion. 

None of the people who wanted to help me during my waiting period could possibly put so many animals in my path. Shannon’s family or friends could never drop coins in the right spot at the right time to remind her God was near.

He longs to encourage you, too. 

The strangest part of my summer filled with animal friends is once everything went from chaotic to settled, they stopped showing up. I even started hiking and none of my summer friends have shown up to greet me.  They were a divine gift for a challenging season. 

My Friend, everyone of us goes through “unsettled” times. The Creator of the entire universe wants to help you through those times. 

“My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth”. Psalm 121:2

Be on the lookout. God’s love is in the details personally for you.

Never Forget the Truth…. 

You are deeply loved by the Creator who longs to be your Encourager and Friend. 

Just ask Him. 💕💕