“Be brave and steadfast. Have no fear or terror for God is the one who marches with you and will never fail you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
Someone once asked Leonard Bernstein what was the hardest instrument to play. He quickly responded saying, “Second fiddle. I can always get plenty of first violinists, but to find one who plays second violin with as much enthusiasm, now that is a problem. And yet if no one plays second, we have no harmony.”
Have you ever felt like you were just not appreciated? Have you ever felt like your good works were just not good enough? Do you feel like you are on the second string? Have you ever felt like the harmony has gone from your life?
God tells us to be strong and of good courage. If you are doing good work and doing the right thing while staying focused on a positive outcome, God will strengthen your heart. I believe God is looking for second, third and fourth fiddlers who are not seeking to glorify themselves but to bring harmony by serving others with results that profoundly make a positive difference in the life of someone else. God is looking for teams of people who can extend extravagant grace to a neighbor, a community, a city and even around the world. Grace is shared through the gifts that God has given you (i.e. service, generosity, caring, helping, loving others, etc).
So if you ever feel like you have failed and maybe even become discouraged while trying to do the right thing, remember these words from Winston Churchill: “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” The absolute most serious mistake or failure is to stop trying to do better and the absolute best way to receive encouragement is to give it. There are probably people in your life today who need some encouragement. I hope you can encourage them and in turn, feel good about God working through you. Emerson said, “Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”
Prayer: God, please do not let me miss an opportunity to encourage someone today. And when I am asked to play second fiddle, may I enthusiastically play on. Amen.
With joy in my heart and the opportunity to serve along-side you,
I remain your friend,
Mark David Jackson
