Daily Strength - Words of Encouragement

 

I have a folder in my email account called ‘Encouragements’. Earlier this morning I was looking at an email I got back in June 2011. It was from Noel Agnew, an older friend and an encourager to many.

 

The email was entitled ‘Overwhelment’ and it began with these lines from 2 Corinthians 1:8-9:

 

‘We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.’

 

A comment followed reflecting on how Paul’s feelings led him neither to despair nor to self-confidence, but rather led him to the cross:

 

‘Paul always brings everything back to the gospel! God raised Jesus from the dead, not only to rescue us from our unrighteousness and our self-righteousness, but also from our self-reliance. None of us is the 4th member of the Trinity. Whatever your state of “overwhelment,” you are not meant to carry the load alone. Humble yourself, share your story with some of the brethren, and trust your Father who makes a garden out of graves!’

 

Like many people from many walks of life I was saddened to learn last night of the death of Noel Agnew. As I remember him I am encouraged to come back to the gospel, and there, and only there, to find the energy and hope so needed in these days.