Encouragement: The Antidote to Quitting

“Encourage one another daily,” the writer of Hebrews 3:13 exhorts us. How few words are needed to affect change in the life of another.

Last week our pastor shared two stories of his experiences running marathons. In the first, his weary body screamed for him to quit as he started up that last killer hill. “Why not,” he said to us, “Obviously I wouldn’t be crossing that finish line first.”

As he struggled with the possibilities, he heard unfamiliar voices from the sidelines calling to him, “Keep going, Jean-Luc; you can do it!”

Who are these people? he’d thought, before remembering both his name and number could be seen by others

“If those people who don’t even know me can think me capable of finishing this race,” he said to the folks at our meeting, “I should believe in myself, too.” The words from the sidelines had provided that last minute burst of energy; he crossed the finish line.

The following year, Jean-Luc finished one marathon, focused on the next scheduled in just a few days. Tragically, a close friend died the day before the race. Jean-Luc elected to run the race in spite of his fatigue and seriously grieving state.

Not far into the race, however, his weary body and emotionally demoralized inner man battled with the long road still ahead. As he approached a boy and his mother just ahead on the sidelines, he heard the following conversation:

“What do I do with these, Mom?” The lad held high-energy lozenges in his palm.

Jean-Luc recognized the product’s name. The specially formulated lozenges dissolve in the runner’s mouth, giving him a burst of concentrated sugar in times of need. As he passed the pair, the mother’s words reached his ears.

“Well, you could give some to that man; he really looks like he needs it.”

“I knew she meant me,” said Pastor Jean-Luc, “If I looked as badly as I felt, what was the purpose of continuing? I quit the race, slipping into the crowd.”

The dear lady hadn’t been critical of his form; she just wanted to help. Maybe her words gave him the permission he needed to sit this one out. His point to those at the leadership meeting emphasized the impact our words can have on others.

His examples brought back the memory of an event from one summer during middle school years. Our community of about 7000 people sponsored a Saturday of track and field competition for the kids. Normally, I preferred tennis and softball; but I loved competition, especially those with ribbons and medals. I signed up for three events.

Wouldn’t you just know, I qualified for the finals in the two events I cared about least! I totally bombed in the one event I thought myself capable of winning.

Since I clearly couldn’t win in either of those two events, I had no interest in returning to the track for the finals later that afternoon. I lived only a few blocks from the field, so I just left for home.

In the middle of chowing-down on a baloney sandwich, I reached for the ringing wall phone. “Hawley residence. May I help you?” I said in the usual manner, though completely distracted by my sandwich. All thoughts of the morning’s competition had vanished.

“Hi! Hey, we saw you this morning at the track and field competition. Congratulations on qualifying for the finals in the long jump and 100-yard dash.”

“Oh, thanks. But I didn’t make the softball-throw at all,” I said lamenting my failure. Before I concluded with my intention to drop out, the caller totally astounded me.

“Yeah, that did surprise us, too; but we’re all going to be there to watch you this afternoon. We know you can do it!”

How could I tell this person I barely knew from the class ahead of me that I’d decided to just quit? I’d look like a real loser.

“Uh, thanks. I’ll try; but they’re not my strongest events, so—“

“We’ll be in the stands. I just wanted to give you a call to let you know. See you later.”

Of course, the call had jolted me out of my apathy for the competition. I gave it my all; my new fans cheering me on. I didn’t break any records that day, except maybe for not quitting.

Although this experience happened more than fifty years ago, it comes to mind whenever I am tempted to drop out of the race. If people I barely know believe in me, I can, too.

In I. Thess. 5:11, the Apostle Paul urges us to “…encourage one another and build each other up.”

It doesn’t cost me anything, so I can always afford to give away a few kind words. Often it takes less time to build someone up than to criticize; so, offering praise for work well done may prove a time-saver.

Do you have any experiences in your life where a kind word, at just the right time, helped you practice not quitting? I’d love to hear about it!