I cannot tell you the number of times someone has come to me with a word of encouragement that has strengthened me in a moment of weakness. Their timely offering of care and love has arrived when needed most and brought hope and courage. Sometimes the messenger has provided insight and wisdom to a concern, while other times they have spoken words of kindness, grace and truth that reminded me of the goodness and faithfulness of God.
Just moments ago, another devotional I read daily shared this verse, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10) We are not lone-rangers, and we desperately need one another.
For three whole weeks Daniel had been in mourning, when suddenly another vision came to him, leaving him weak. Scripture tells us that he was so overcome by the vision and the voice that spoke that he fainted, and fell with his face to the ground. At that moment a hand touched Daniel and lifted him, encouraging, "Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you."
Three times in Daniel 9-10 we read that Daniel is told he is very precious to God. To know we are valued by the Lord is such a gift. The actual Hebrew is translated, "man of preciousness". It is having the certainty that we are greatly beloved by God. Today, believers have God's word to remind us, and the cross to testify of the Lord's great love for us and how deeply He treasures us. As a man with a yielded heart, Daniel received these remarkable words that gave immediate reassurance.
The angel then continues to inform Daniel that from the first day he began to pray for understanding, humbling himself before God, his request was heard in heaven, and now this ambassador of God has come in answer to Daniel's prayer. The angelic being explains that for twenty-one days, the exact three weeks that Daniel had been seeking the Lord in prayer, this messenger had been opposed and detained by demonic opposition even though having been dispatched immediately. Oh, how we need to persist in prayer. Prayer is a powerful weapon in the war between God and Satan, and we cannot ignore it or lessen our intensity when answers seem long in coming.
Daniel had been so completely overwhelmed by the vision he had seen and now this intermediary, sent from God, touches and strengthens him. Today, as believers, we may not feel any physical touch from without, but we have the presence of the Holy Spirit within, empowering us, and comforting us by the truth of God's word. Often the Lord sends encouragement to us through another of His children. We open an email from a friend to find the exact scripture verse that enlivens our heart. A hug is given when we are in desperate need of some tender affection.
When we feel weak and overwhelmed, weary and faint, the Lord is so gracious to send us strengthening faith through our intermediaries, the family of God. And, do not forget, we too can be agents of His touch and encouragement to others.
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