Your Presence Matters
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
A few weeks ago, I got to grab lunch with my friend David and his girlfriend Katie. We talked about many things: Life, liberty, which Panera Bread side is the best, you know, the important topics that demand conversation. In the midst of all that we talked about, you could see how joyful they were, not just around one another, but how present they were in the time we spent at lunch. How often do we miss being present in the moments we need to be nowadays? Life moves faster than we can blink. We have different responsibilities, challenges, and things we face, and in the midst of that, we can miss the moments where our presence can make a difference.
And I want you to stop really quick and hear this: Your presence makes a difference in every room you walk into. You’ve been fashioned by the King of Kings. You’re not a 1 of 100, not even a 1 in 10. You are a 1 of 1, created by the Creator of the world. You were created to share who you are, your quirks, your talents, the way you can do the entire choreography of Footloose (okay, that may just be me, but still).
Don’t doubt what simply being present in the moment can do for someone around you. You can be the ear and shoulder they need in a season of doubt and grief. You can be the wisdom and spark they need to continue where God is leading them. You can let who you are propel someone closer to Jesus and what He is calling them toward.
Your presence can make a difference for the rest of your life, not just a few days, not just here and now, but every single day. Because of your presence, someone walks more confidently in who they are. Because of your presence, someone knows they are loved, valued, and prayed over.
So let us continue to encourage and build up those around us. Let us continue to be present in the ever-changing nature of this world, to encourage, to love, to let ourselves be loved in the name of Jesus, and to see how that unites us all as we continue to see how Jesus moves all around us.
