Summary

The author reflects on the possibility that God has been subtly encouraging him throughout his life, much like he encourages his son Josh during challenging moments.

Abstract

The article delves into the personal revelation of the author, Mark Goblowsky, who draws parallels between the encouragement he provides to his son, Josh, and the divine encouragement he believes he has received from God. Through various anecdotes of supporting Josh in his developmental milestones, Mark contemplates whether God has been similarly reassuring him during times of doubt and fear. He questions if he has overlooked God's presence in his life, especially in moments when he felt uncertain or anxious about his dreams and aspirations. The author encourages readers to consider the idea that a higher power or the universe might be guiding and supporting them, suggesting that embracing this belief could lead to a life free from fear and filled with the pursuit of their deepest dreams.

Opinions

The author believes that God's encouragement in his life mirrors the support he gives to his son.
Mark suggests that God may have been communicating confidence and safety to him in various life situations.
He posits that people might waste time worrying and over-analyzing instead of listening to this divine encouragement.
The author expresses that truly believing in God's support could alleviate fear and doubt, leading to the realization of one's dreams.
Mark implies that there is a universal or divine presence that looks out for individuals, guiding them towards their best outcomes.
He advocates for maintaining faith and suggests that love ultimately prevails in the face of life's challenges.
The author encourages readers to become Medium members to support his writing, indicating his commitment to and passion for storytelling.

SEEING THE NOT ALWAYS OBVIOUS

Has God Been Encouraging You?

And you didn’t notice?

When Josh was becoming a toddler and exploring the world, trying to figure out how things worked, I would encourage him every chance I saw.

I tried to boost his belief in himself and in the world around him. To help him understand things were safe and that he had what it takes to do new things and figure stuff out.

Sometimes we were at the playground climbing up the slide. Other times it was a padded play area at a mall, jumping from one giant mushroom to the next, or maybe outside in the yard playing in the snow or discovering pinecones.

One day we were walking up the carpeted steps from our finished basement to the main floor. Josh was in front, trying to figure out how to climb the steps without crawling up them or falling back down them. He wasn’t one hundred percent sure of himself.

I walked behind him to ensure he didn’t tumble backward. As he would carefully move forward and upward, I would encourage him.

“You’re okay, Josh. It’s safe. You can do it!”

“You’re fine, Son! I’m right behind you!”

“I got you, buddy. You don’t have to worry! There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

I said those things to Josh more times than I could count and in many different situations. Even though I said them the same basic way, that day seemed different.

I wondered, Is that what has also been going on in my own life?

Photo by Ralph (Ravi) Kayden on Unsplash

Is that how God sees me?

Has God been saying those things to me all along?

Has he been encouraging me like I encourage Josh?

“I got you, Mark. It’s going to be fine.”

“There’s nothing to worry about, Son. It’s all going to work out.”

“You got this, Mark! Just go for it! I’m right behind you. There’s nothing to fear.”

I started to wonder if God had been trying to tell me those things my entire life. Whispering to my soul, “You got this.”

Was He there? Every time I doubted myself.

Was He encouraging me? Every time I became impatient with myself.

Every time I was scared of taking a chance or attempting the big dreams that were hidden away in my heart, was he quietly nudging me forward, telling me to go for it?

And if that was true, had I been wasting time?

Worrying . . .

Obsessing . . .

Over-analyzing . . .

What if I paid attention from now on?

What if I listened to that Voice? What if I let that Voice drown out the doubt, the delay, the dream-killing thoughts?

What if I really believed that I didn’t need to be afraid, that things would absolutely work out? Maybe not exactly as I wanted or perfectly, but they would work out.

What if I believed?

What if it’s all true, God is with us 100% of the time, and the most intimate dreams in our soul are really possible?

What if there really is someone, God (or something, the universe), looking out for you, me, and all of us?

What IF?

Do you believe there is something or someone out there looking out for your best outcomes, encouraging you?

I choose to.

Keep the Faith. Love Wins.

If you enjoy reading stories like these and want to support me as a writer, consider signing up to become a Medium member. It’s $5 a month, giving unlimited access to Medium stories. I’ll earn a small commission if you sign up using the link above.