“For day by day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army like the army of God.” (1 Chronicles 12:22)

During my devotion time recently, I was thinking about those who are troubled, fearful or in a battle they think they can’t win. Then I got a vision related to my coaching days. See if you can visualize this.

The vision was in a football stadium with the players on the field. They were on the 20-yard line and were behind on the scoreboard with 30 seconds to go in the game. It seemed like the opponent was going to win. The coach called a timeout and went out to talk to the team. There were eleven players on the field and 30+ on the sidelines. The players were all discouraged, tired, and weak. Then as the coach tried to encourage the team, something strange began to happen. Fans began to come out of the home stands, walk onto the field and assemble behind the team huddle. Others were also coming through the gates from town and some even came from the visitor bleachers. Shortly, there were hundreds of supporters standing behind the team on the field cheering and giving them encouragement. In my vision, I don’t know if the team went on to score and win but I do know they were encouraged by the unprecedented support they had received.

We know those who are in the same position as this team and we can encourage them if we’ll get out of the stands and go to them. Isaiah 35:3 says, “Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.” The prophet Elisha told his servant Gehazi when he thought they were surrounded by the enemy, “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” (2 Kings 6:16). The writer of Hebrews in chapter 12 verse 1 reminds me of my vision: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, (supporters) let us lay aside every weight, (worry) and the sin, (fear) which doth so easily beset us, and let us run (play) with patience the race (game) that is set before us,” (Hebrews 12:1). And, it will be good for us as well. “Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others.” – Plato.