What Does The Bible Say About Encouragement?
The Bible is full of inspiring stories, timeless lessons, and insights into the power of encouragement. Encouragement is a virtue and a powerful tool to encourage people to do the right things and to stay away from doing harmful and wrong things. Biblical encouragement is based on the Christian principles that equip and empower us as a human being.
Our spiritual and moral values all come from God and His teachings, which are found in the Bible. As followers of Jesus, we have the responsibility to be good stewards of the truth and to use that truth to encourage and edify one another. The Bible encourages us to bear one another’s burdens, forgive one another, and remain unified (Galatians 6:2). We are to be encouraging, kind, and compassionate to one another and to speak life into each other.
When encouragement is lacking, it can lead to feelings of helplessness, worthlessness, and isolation. Encouragement isn’t just about making people feel good – it’s also about giving them hope that things can get better, and that they can overcome challenges that may seem insurmountable. This type of hope is necessary in order to move forward in life.
The Bible talks a lot about “encouragement”. It speaks of “encouraging one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). When we have the right perspective, we can be filled with encouragement that empowers us to live lives full of hope and faith. The Bible tells us to “encourage each other every day, as long as it is still called Today.” (Hebrews 3:13).
It is important to note that while we are encouraged to comfort one another with our words of encouragement, the ultimate source of encouragement is God. God is our true source of strength and hope when we feel discouraged and overwhelmed. God is our encourager and comforter who never fails to provide us with the words and strength we need to persevere and to remain faithful.
We can find encouragement in God’s Word, in the promises He makes in the Bible, and in prayer. When we turn to God in prayer, He opens our heart to receive His divine encouragement. He refreshes and restores us, giving us the strength and courage to continue on the path of faith. Finally, the Bible also reminds us to “encourage one another”, to speak words of life, and to keep our eyes on the Lord in all circumstances (Hebrews 10:24).
Encouraging Others in Love
The Bible speaks strongly about the importance of loving one another, but it is not enough to just do so in word. We must also love through our actions. As the Bible says in John 13:34-35: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
It is important to note that there are different levels of love and not all love is equal. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul further speaks about the many forms of love: “Love is patient and kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
By having this kind of love towards one another, we can offer true and meaningful encouragement to those around us. We must be careful to give that encouragement as God would, in a manner that edifies and uplifts, rather than in a way that seeks to tear down or manipulate. Proverbs 16:24 says “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Our words of encouragement must be focused on building up our fellow Christians, and not on tearing them down.
At the same time, we must recognize that even in Christian fellowship, we are still imperfect beings and it is easy to fall into habits that can be unhelpful and unproductive. We must be careful to be honest and open with one another, while also being gentle, wise and encouraging. We should seek to speak in the same gracious and forgiving tone that God speaks to us.
The Power of Encouragement
The power of encouragement is that it not only lifts us up and gives us hope, it changes us. When we are encouraged, we are more likely to build up our faith, seek out God’s help, and work hard to better ourselves and our lives. In other words, when we are encouraged, we are more likely to do the things that will bring lasting change in our life.
The Bible calls us to be encouragers, but it also warns about the dangers of discouragement. The book of Proverbs warns us: “A clenched fist does wounds, but a hand of encouragement does wonders.” (18:21). We should be diligent in choosing our words carefully, as they can have a lasting impact on those around us.
When we speak words of hope and life, they go a long way towards helping someone else to thrive in their own life. Our words are powerful tools in helping us always remain positive, overcome any setbacks we may have, and achieve greatness in the things we set our hand to. God has given us an incredible gift in the ability to use our words to build each other up and to spread His love, grace, and peace in the world.
Encouragement in the Church
The Book of Proverbs paints a vivid picture of the power of encouragement when it says, “While one person’s heart encourages him, another person’s words can bring life” (Proverbs 12:25 NLT). The church is a place where we can encourage each other, build one another up, and find strength, inspiration, and support from others who are striving to live out their faith. We are called to make disciples, to share the Gospel, and to welcome people of all backgrounds into the body of Christ.
As members of the body of Christ, it is our responsibility to be a people of encouragement. We must strive to provide a safe and encouraging environment where people can discover God’s truth and be released into a life of freedom. Encouragement in the church is a powerful tool that helps believers come to Jesus and grow in Him..
When the Church is the place of encouragement, all members have a duty to be engaging and supportive. Too often we can become so focused on ourselves and our own individual needs that we forget the importance of encouraging and edifying others. We are called to be encouragers, and when we show love and kindness to one another, it can have ripple effects that result in generational change.
The Transformative Power of Encouragement
The power of encouragement is transformative, and we see examples of this throughout the Bible. In Acts 9:26-27, we read the story of Ananias, a disciple of Jesus who had been chosen to encourage and restore Saul (the later apostle Paul) when he was weak and discouraged. Through his encouraging words, Ananias helped Saul to have a powerful encounter with Jesus and to become renewed in his faith.
The story of Ananias serves as a reminder of the power of our words. Our words of encouragement can help to build people up, equip them with hope, and inspire them to keep going in their faith journey. We have the power to provide life-giving words of encouragement and faith to those around us – even if it is just a simple “I am praying for you”.
The Bible is full of such examples, and it serves as a reminder that our words can have a profound impact on the lives of others. We should use our words of encouragement sparingly and thoughtfully, as our words have the power to impact someone’s life in profound ways.
Encouragement in Difficult Times
As followers of Christ, it is our duty to bring God’s love and grace to a hurting world. We can do this through our words of encouragement, especially in times of crisis. In such times of great difficulty, it is often the words of the Lord that can bring the most comfort and hope to those who are struggling.
The Bible is filled with encouraging scripture that brings joy and hope in the face of adversity. God’s word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths (Psalm 119:105). When we are struggling, these scriptures can provide us with hope and help us to keep going in our journey of faith. Even in our darkest moments, we can find encouragement through the words of God.
At the same time, we must remember that our words of encouragement are vital as well. When we are struggling, it is often the words of encouragement we hear from those around us that can provide much-needed strength, hope, and perspective. As followers of Christ, we must use our words wisely and take the opportunity to encourage and edify those who may be facing difficult times.
Wrapping Up
Encouragement is an important part of being a follower of Jesus. We are exhorted in the Bible to bear one another’s burdens, to be kind and compassionate to one another, and to speak life into each other. It is through these words of encouragement that we can empower people to live lives full of hope and faith, and it is through our deeds of love and kindness that we can bring lasting change in our life.
The power of encouragement is immense and is something we must not take for granted. When we encourage one another, we can bring hope to those around us, equip them to persevere in their faith, and help them to find healing. The Bible exhorts us to use our words of life to bring encouragement to those who are discouraged and overwhelmed. So let us strive to use our words to build each other up and to spread God’s love and grace in the world.
