Every once in a while God prompts me to say something to someone that makes me feel very uncomfortable. And in the moments before I say it, I’m really tempted not to. After I say it, I’m really glad I did.

Like recently, I shared with a friend of mine that I thought he was living a bit beneath his calling. There was more greatness inside of him than he was forcing to the surface, and I perceived that he was squandering some spiritual gifts. I almost didn’t tell him what I had in my heart to say, because I didn’t want him to think I was being presumptuous. Or worse yet, weird. But I said it anyway.
He wrote me 2 letters to thank me for calling him out, and he made some major changes in his life for the better.
I’m glad I spoke up.

Six months ago someone close to me was struggling with something very painful. They asked me what I thought about it. I began with a very canned response-the kind you can learn in seminary. But God began to lead me to address the deeper issue in this person’s life instead of reheating the same tired talk they had come to expect. They told me later that what I said kept them awake that night, and eventually produced a lasting relational reconciliation.

When God wants to say something through me, there’s always a rich reward when I speak up.
I wonder who you can speak encouragement and hope into today?
What difference would it make? What’s stopping you?