The Gift of Encouragement
Encouragement is an incredibly powerful gift that Christians can utilize to build up fellow believers and point them towards Christ. At its core, biblical encouragement is about coming alongside others, empathizing with them, building them up, and spurring them on towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Scripture has much to say about the importance of encouragement and its transformative power in the lives of Christians.
What Does It Mean to Encourage?
The word “encourage” in the Bible carries the connotation of emboldening, cheering up, comforting, inspiring, and rallying others. To encourage someone requires taking time to understand their struggles, empathizing with their pain, speaking life and truth into their hearts, and reassuring them of God’s promises and presence.
Encouragement goes beyond surface level platitudes – it dives deeper into people’s souls and reminds them of their value and belovedness. The act of encouragement recognizes the inherent dignity and worth bestowed on all human life, made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). It sees people not according to worldly standards, but how God sees them – as His children, reconciled to Himself through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:16-21).
Biblical Examples of Encouragement
Throughout Scripture, we find stories of people who built up others through their words and actions of encouragement:
– Jonathan encouraging David – Jonathan’s friendship and assurance of God’s anointing on David’s life gave him strength to endure Saul’s persecution (1 Samuel 23:16-18).
– Elizabeth encouraging Mary – While pregnant, Elizabeth affirmed the blessing of Mary’s miraculous pregnancy, despite its social stigma (Luke 1:39-45).
– Barnabas encouraging Paul – Barnabas welcomed Paul into the Christian community after his radical conversion, assuring the other believers of the genuineness of Paul’s faith (Acts 9:26-27).
– Paul encouraging the Philippian church – Even while in prison, Paul took care to send words of affirmation to the church in Philippi (Philippians 1:3-11).
Encouragement in Action
Biblical encouragement is not passive – it motivates people towards bringing glory to God. Scripture provides practical ways Christians can actively encourage others:
– Build others up: Speak words that reassure people of their value, belovedness, and calling in Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
– Comfort others: Alleviate distress and answer anxiety with God’s word of hope and peace (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
– Exhort towards love: Inspire and challenge people to grow in Christlike character of love (Hebrews 10:24-25).
– Remind people of truth: Redirect wandering hearts and minds back to the stability of God’s promises (Jude 1:5-7).
– Affirm gifts and calling: Notice people’s talents and spur them on in their vocation (Romans 12:3-8).
– Reassure the discouraged: Dispel doubt, fear, and insecurity by speaking gospel truth (Isaiah 35:3-4).
– Share burdens: Bear one another’s pain and point them to Christ’s sufficiency (Galatians 6:2).
– Pray for others: Bring requests to God on behalf of others (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Encouragement requires selflessness, wisdom, discernment and dependence on God’s Spirit to know how to best minister to people’s inner needs with sensitivity, humility and grace. It flows from an abundance of love, rooted in the openhearted acceptance Christ has shown us (Romans 15:7).
Why is Encouragement Important?
Living in a fallen world, all Christians face discouragement and need biblical encouragement. God created us for community and did not intend for anyone to walk through life alone. Everyone benefits from cheerleaders who can speak into their lives with truth, hope and grace.
Here are some reasons why encouragement is so vital:
– Uplifts spirits: Words of affirmation lifts people’s eyes from adversity to the hope set before them in Christ (Hebrews 12:1-3).
– Strengthens faith: Reminding people of God’s promises buoys weary souls to press on in faith (Isaiah 40:29-31).
– Fuels love: Affirming people’s gifts stirs them to use it in service, spreading more love (2 Corinthians 8:10-15).
– Sustains unity: Esteeming one another preserves harmony in Christian community (Ephesians 4:1-3).
– Lightens burdens: Encouragement eases heavy loads by distributing them across many shoulders (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
– Renews vision: Inspiring people towards their calling reignites passion and purpose (Proverbs 29:18).
– Defeats isolation: No one thrives alone – encouragement brings people into meaningful community (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12).
Encouragement is like oxygen to the soul – it brings vitality of faith when believers speak life into each other.
The Source of True Encouragement
Human encouragement has its limits – words eventually run dry and the most empathetic listening ear becomes weary. The ultimate source of encouragement is found in Christ alone. He powerfully reassures His people at their core, infusing strength, purpose and comfort through His Spirit and Word (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
Christ encourages believers with:
– His presence – He promises to never leave His people, upholding them with His righteous hand (Isaiah 41:10).
– His purpose – He directs every believer’s steps according to His sovereign, loving will (Proverbs 3:5-6).
– His comfort – He is close to the brokenhearted and gently binds up their wounds (Psalm 34:18).
– His love – Nothing can separate Christians from Christ’s endless love for them (Romans 8:38-39).
– His promises – Every word He speaks is perfectly trustworthy, anchoring hearts amidst stormy trials (2 Corinthians 1:20).
– His salvation – He paid the ultimate price to reconcile lost people to Himself by grace (Ephesians 2:1-9).
Christ beautifully weaves His encouragement into the everyday fellowship believers share as His body. But the ultimate hope that buoys Christians’ hearts is the glorious day when they will see their Savior face to face in eternity (Revelation 21:3-4)
Becoming an Encourager
Since encouragement is such a precious gift, believers in Christ are called to steward it well. Here are some tips on how to become an encourager:
Listen attentively – Really pay attention to understand others’ experiences. Avoid distractions and be fully present (Proverbs 18:13).
Ask discerning questions – Draw out people’s thoughts and feelings to understand their needs (Proverbs 20:5).
Pray for discernment – Ask God to reveal His perspective and highlight specific ways to encourage (James 1:5).
Look for opportunities – Every interaction is a chance to speak life – don’t miss them (Colossians 4:5-6)!
Check your motives – Humble service of others should drive encouragement, not self-interest.
Think positively about people – Believe the best in others; do not be quick judge or criticize (1 Corinthians 13:7).
Use words thoughtfully – Seek words from Scripture that apply to others’ specific situation (Proverbs 15:23).
Offer real help – Move beyond talk to provide practical assistance meeting needs (Galatians 5:13-14).
Be patient and persistent – People often require time and repetition before encouragement sinks in.
Trust the Spirit – Rely on the Spirit’s wisdom and power when human words fall short (Romans 8:26-27).
God delights to use ordinary believers to accomplish His extraordinary work of encouragement. As Christians steward this gift of speaking life into others, they spread the love of Christ and build up His people to glorify Him.