Experienced treasure hunters know that great treasures may not look like treasures when you first see them. They may be camouflaged, covered up, or in need of cleaning. So serious treasure hunters learn how to spot a treasure in the rough, and that skill is even more important when the treasure they’re seeking is a relationship that can endure through the darkness.

Years ago, as an often obsessed rock hound, I learned some valuable lessons about treasure hunting.... (continued)

After years of pain and despair, Joanie sat down with two friends and talked openly about what it had been like to live with a chronic and crippling lung disease. She described the daily battle that often left her physically, emotionally and spiritually drained. Through tears she talked about the doubts, pain and disappointment.

Wanting to know more about what Joanie had learned through those struggles, one friend as... (continued)

Grace is God’s love in action. It is the glue that mends our brokenness. It fills in the cracks, covers over the chips and holds the broken pieces together. No wonder it is essential! Grace puts the finishing touch—the brilliant shine—on our most precious relationships.

Some have said that if we would "walk in grace," most of our relationship conflicts would never occur. So what does grace look like? What does it accomplish in our lives and relationships? These highlights will give yo... (continued)

In the previous issue of The Encourager, we went on a "treasure hunt"to discover some of the gems that hurting people have uncovered in the darkness of suffering. In this issue,we will explore some of the treasures to be discovered through relationships that endure in ... (continued)

The darkness of suffering creates an environment in which misunderstanding and miscommunication can flourish.When we are forced to navigate through that darkness,we all too often bump up against the rough edges, impurities, flaws and weaknesses that mar even our most precious relationships. Our greatest treasures at times may appear to be nothing more than worthless stones.

In such an environment,we may need to refine our relationship skills if we want our relationships to en... (continued)

Of course, being honest is risky. There are no guarantees that our honesty or vulnerability will be handled properly. Man... (continued)

In the darkness of suffering, our flaws stand out like beacons in the night. Family and friends don’t meet the hurting person’s needs. They interfere when they shouldn’t. They say stupid things. They don’t say anything at all. They don’t understand the pain. And the actions and attitudes of hurting people are no less flawed."Hurting people aren’t always nice," Joni Eareckson Tada explains."Suffering can really breed selfishness or insensitivity…sometimes downright rudeness."

How is it... (continued)

We don’t normally expect to find treasures in the darkness of adversity or riches in the valley of suffering, but God gives us rich rewards even in these desolate places. One of the greatest riches God prepares for us in the valley is the treasure of relationships. I will never forget the day I first caught a glimpse of this magnificent treasure. It changed my life.

I had become desperately depressed and was seeing a counselor to help m... (continued)