God will use any means to encourage us!
When Jenny and I were dating, she once went on a road trip with a group of her —people I had never met before. Sometime later, when I finally met them, they said, “It’s so great to finally meet you! Jenny talked our ears off about you the entire 13-hour road trip!” This made me feel so special! 🥰
It’s encouraging to receive a compliment from someone directly, but what’s even more flattering is to hear the positive things people say about you behind your back.
Gideon felt encouraged and strengthened when he overheard a soldier in the enemy camp share a dream they had about him (Judges 7:9-15).
“I had a dream,” he was saying. “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” His friend responded, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshipped.
Before this, God told Gideon, “If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp and listen to what they are saying” (Judges 7:10-11). God knew that Gideon needed to hear this dream to get rid of the last bit of fear in his heart and be ready to attack.
God did not reprimand Gideon for still fearing or lacking faith despite the many pep talks and supernatural signs He had already given him (Judges 6); instead, He chose to encourage and strengthen Gideon in a unique and unexpected way.
Our God is a God of encouragement, and He will use any means to do so, even our enemies!
friend, are you in need of encouragement today? Share your fears with God and ask Him to send you unexpected encouragement today!
