“Therefore encourage one another and build another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

How good are you at encouraging others? As Christians, we recognize the need for encouragement. We live in a fallen world filled with false ideas, and we need a community of brothers and sisters in the Lord who will remind us of what is true and uplifting.

I love that God commands that we encourage each other. It’s not an optional nicety for those who want to do something extra. Every Christian is commanded to be an encourager. I need to see myself as someone called to this. Even on days where I need encouragement, I need to be thinking of how I can encourage others. 

God smiles on His children looking for ways to build each other up in a world where so many are anxiously trying to tear others down.

Let’s meditate together on why encouragement is so vital for God’s people.

Why Encouragement Is a Big Deal

Chuck Swindoll is a 91-year-old pastor who has been a pastor to many other pastors, including myself, through his books. He explains that encouragement is “putting courage into someone else.” When you encourage others, you inspire confidence, assurance, and hope for the future because they are more prepared for what life will throw out them.

Swindoll writes:

“Encouragement is awesome. Think about it. It has the capacity to lift a man’s or a woman’s shoulders. To breathe fresh air into the fading embers of a smoldering dream. To actually change the course of another human being’s day, week, or life.”

Have you stopped to consider how powerful your words of encouragement might be to someone else today? You might be used by God to say the exact words someone needed to hear that might change the trajectory of their day, and possibly, their life. 

When I first arrived at Grace Point Community Church, I sat down for coffee with the previous pastor, Steve McCracken. Steve was mentored by Swindoll. Rather than making me feel like I was being examined, he spoke words of life, joy, and excitement about the future. Throughout that first conversation, I felt built up and encouraged by this godly man, who I now consider a friend and mentor. And by the way, Steve has continued to be a who lives out Ephesians 4:29. His words communicate the grace of Jesus Christ.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Our World Is Desperate for Encouragement

Here’s the reality: Everyone needs encouragement. I have yet to meet someone who is tapped out with too much encouragement or is too busy to hear uplifting words of encouragement. 

Scripture says that when we speak words of encouragement, we help to lift someone’s heart. 

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25)

Quite honestly, our world is full of discouragers. We see this online, in the workplace, and sometimes even within families and churches. Too often, I’ve heard of someone pouring cold water on the embers of enthusiasm or someone feeling let down by a negative word when they were desperate for a word of appreciation for their hard work. 

So much power rests in the tongue (James 3). It can build up, and it can tear down. It can heal, and it can cut like a sword (Proverbs 12:18).

Frankly, if you have an accurate theology from Scripture, you should expect people to be discouraged as a default setting. They are dealing with loneliness, pain, anxious thoughts, fear of death, fear of rejection, shame, and guilt. Without intentional encouragement a person’s heart can grow hard with sin’s deceitfulness. 

Consider this little devotional an urgent encouragement for you: You can be an encourager! You can help change the trajectory of someone’s story. You can be someone who lifts others up rather than pushes them down. We all need encouragement. 

And for Christians, this is commanded because we know the greatest Source of encouragement. Jesus Christ sought us when we were lost in our sin and shame, and He lifted us out of the miry pit and set us on the solid rock of salvation. He showed us grace and forgiveness and gave us fresh purpose in life. Without Jesus, we too would have little encouraging words to say about life and the state of the world. But in the power of the gospel, we have every reason to encourage others and to build up weary souls.

“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Who can you encourage today?

Prayer: Lord, make me an encourager today, by the power of Your Holy Spirit!

Thoughts or questions?  I’d love to hear from you!