KAREN HODGE | CONTRIBUTOR

Encourage- [en-kur-ij] to inspire with courage, hope, or confidence.

“But encourage one another every day, as long as it is called “today” (Heb. 3:13 NIV).

Happy Birthday to the enCourage Blog! We give God all the glory for ten years of inspiring courage, hope, and confidence to thousands of women. He has used editor Christiana Fox’s ability and creativity to curate this vast storehouse of encouragement. While many other platforms share ideologies, cultural commentary, or political views, our blog has one purpose: to encourage! To bring the hope of the gospel to the hearts of women.

Courage and Companionship

In Women’s Ministry, we have the opportunity to walk in front of or alongside women as we walk each other Home. The fear of the unknown, failure, rejection, or suffering can threaten to paralyze us. Borrowing others’ courage when it is in short supply emboldens us to persevere. To encourage means to impart courage or implant heart into someone. Courage strengthens through companionship. The women we serve are often in life’s waiting room. Unexpected news may leave us anxious or discouraged; gospel friends encourage us as we wait for the Lord’s providential plans. “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Ps.27:14).

Our enCourage authors have been regular courage companions over the past decade. Their words and wisdom have reminded us to pursue those who are struggling with anxiety or depression. To be buoyed by the joy of thick community that is cultivated through intergenerational friendships. In all the seasons of life, especially the little years, the young moms in our lives need to know they are not alone.

 The Hope of the Gospel to the Hearts of Women

In the hopeless world we live in, we live, functionally, with our fingers crossed. Ambiguous desires or wishes, such as “I hope my kids turn out ok,” “I will get this job,” or “I will find a parking spot close to the store,” reveal that worldly hope is thin and elusive. Hope needs an anchor. “We have this sure, steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf” (Heb. 6:19-20a). Women need hope rooted in the Word and anchored in the character of our covenantal God. When all of life is shifting, this hope is steady. All of the promises that encourage our hearts, such as He will never leave us (Heb. 13:5), He is interceding for us (Rom. 8:34), and He is making all things new (Rev.21:5), find their yes and amen in a Person, Jesus (2 Cor. 1:20)!

Our enCourage authors remind us to anchor our hope in Christ, especially in the hard places.  In the spaces where we are suffering or lamenting. When we grieve and are full of sorrow. And daring to hope when all seems hopeless.

Christ-confidence to Serve

Women’s ministry leaders are often chosen for external skills or extroverted personalities. We don’t have to serve long in the church to know these things will not go at the distance. Paul reminds us to “put no confidence in the flesh” (Phil.3:3). The word confidence converges around two ideas. “Con” or with, and “fide,” meaning full trust. This is where the rubber meets the road. Where do we place our full trust? Confidence needs an object. Do our self-reliant plans or agendas run the show? When we place our confidence in Christ, we eagerly expect His power and presence to reign. He will increase, and we will decrease. His glory trumps our meager efforts. We need gospel friends in our lives to encourage us to forsake reaching for our proverbial bootstraps and place our confidence in a Person rather than our perceived productivity. I often need to coach my own heart to remember the fundamental difference between life-taking and life-giving leadership is the object of my confidence.

Our enCourage authors encourage readers toward a Christ-confidence that enables us to serve when we are weak, love our church even in the challenging places, and extend forgiveness when others break our hearts.

Photo by Meredith Spencer on Unsplash

Karen Hodge

Karen Hodge serves as the Coordinator for PCA Women’s Ministry, where she seeks to connect women and churches to one another and to sound resources. She is also having the time of her life serving alongside her husband, pastor and best friend Chris, at Village Seven Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, CO. They have two adult children, Anna Grace Botka and Haddon Hodge. She is the host of the enCourage podcast and along with Susan Hunt, authored Transformed: Life-taker to Life-giver, Life-giving Leadership, and Breathe: The Life-giving Oxygen of the Lord’s Prayer.