“Like a cup of cold water”—it’s a wonderful experience to share
By Dean Collins
As we were wrapping up the Zoom call my friend said, “This is the best call I’ve had this week, maybe the best in more than a month. What you’ve shared is a God story, like few stories I hear. I’m really encouraged and can’t wait to see what God does in your life over the next five years!”
My friend is an investor. He is a strong believer. He is a strategic thinker who will challenge you and your thoughts. He will also provide quick feedback. Like me, he writes regularly. He wrote something a few weeks ago that made me think he was a little discouraged, so I set up a call. I wanted to see how he was doing and update him on some of our progress at Point University.
He quickly told me he was doing fine. He didn’t actually remember what prompted his post that had me wondering about him. But in his late 60s, he has been thinking a lot about the next phase and where he needs to focus. I’m a few years behind but shared I think it’s natural for us to be asking ourselves hard questions. It’s also important to be asking God where he wants us and what he wants from us as we see the shortening number of decades ahead.
We talked about the importance of thinking and praying throughout all of our seasons in life. We told a couple of stories with examples of those who have done that well. We were both aware of many who don’t.
Good news
When I read the last four verses of Proverbs 25 today, I thought about my Zoom call. “Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” I live about 70 miles from my Atlanta friend. I’m not in a far country. But busyness at work and in life can create much distance even when Google maps suggests we are geographically close. My friend and I were both refreshed by that phone call. For me it truly was like cold water on a summer day.
I had talked with another friend just a few days earlier. We each shared stories of someone close to us who started off on a righteous path, but due to inattention to their spiritual core, they wandered far away. Their life choices polluted a fresh spring. The wise king said it could happen. And when it does, it hurts both the person and their influence.
Cool water
We need to share our good news with others. Everyone needs a cool cup of water, and a catch-up call can be life-giving. And while your intentions were to cheer up another, you might be surprised just to find yourself feeling better as well when the call ends.
You can also have conversations like these with your friends and colleagues who aren’t yet believers. They need your good news, and it might one day create an opportunity for you to share the Good News that changed you.
I’m guessing there’s someone you could call today and share something good that’s going on in your world. It might make a huge difference in their world as well.
Your time with God’s Word
Proverbs 25:25-26 ESV
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash
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