I asked Maren after Monday night's game, "Do you think you all are playing as aggressive as you can?"
"I don't think so" she replied.
Me, "why is that?"
Maren, "the crowd is not encouraging us."
"well...it seems a little off base to be blaming the crowd for your losses don't you think?" I chuckled.
"that's not what I mean" Maren replied.
She went on to explain that all of their games, thus far, have been "away" games. It's a different "feel" than home games. When the announcer introduces the "away" team, he does so in a monotone voice. But when you're the home team, you run out to loud upbeat music, the announcer introduces you with MUCH enthusiasm, the crowd goes wild, and the team gets EXCITED! pumped up!! and ready to play!
Once she explained this, I totally understood it. Not that it's a great excuse, but it does make sense. We RESPOND when others encourage us.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says for us to ENCOURAGE one another and to BUILD each other up.
It's important. We need to speak encouraging words to each other.
But what if we don't have someone there to encourage us? Do we just walk around hanging our head and have a pity party?
We could, but I'm not sure that would benefit anyone, especially ourselves.
When no one is there to encourage us, I think we should follow David's example. His people were upset with him, they were far from encouraging him, in fact what they wanted to do was stone him. David was at the lowest of lows and he knew he needed to have a different outlook. So what did he do when no one else would encourage him?
"David encouraged himself in the Lord His God" 1 Samuel 30:6 KJV
He worshipped the Lord. Sought Him. And in doing so, the Lord strengthened Him, revived Him. It's more than David "willing" himself to be encouraged, it's submitting yourself to the One who is all powerful, forever capable, and able to do exceedingly more than all we could ask or imagine. It's about believing that. Getting excited about that. Getting pumped up about that....and thus we become GREATLY encouraged!
I pray that you always have someone who will encourage you. But if you don't have a crowd cheering you on, may you know that the God of all creation IS cheering you on! That He is FOR YOU! That His plans are to prosper you! And that with Him, all things are possible.
