Some people naturally know how to encourage others. We feel refreshed in their presence, and they freely offer praise, admiration, and genuine encouragement. When I am around encouragers, I wonder, how are they so kind? Is it possible for all of us to become encouragers?
What does the Bible say about encouragement? Expressing encouragement may seem a little awkward for some people. But what a different world it would be if we grasped what the Bible says about encouragement and became people who speak words of hope.
What Does the Bible Say about Encouragement
What does the Bible say about encouragement? The Bible is the most influential book ever written and the inspired Word of God. One of the greatest wonders of reading the Bible is its ability to change and encourage us. Reading about the lives of people in the Bible, stories of God’s faithfulness, and Jesus’ life and death inspires us.
The Holy Spirit fills us with supernatural hope, and we can move toward a life of purpose. From this overflowing well of love, peace, and confidence, we can freely love and encourage those around us. Expressing and sharing love with others is hard when you feel dry, disappointed, and discouraged. By learning what the Bible says about encouragement and through prayer, we start filling our spirit and become encouraged.
What does the Bible say about encouragement? Pages and pages of hope-filled words. Our job is to embrace the gift we have and discover its power.
What Does the Bible Say about Encouraging One Another
Encouragement means to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope. Encouraging one another is how we share strength, love, and courage. How amazing that our words can touch someone’s heart and provide long-lasting hope and confidence.
Encouragement can provide people with strength to look ahead, move forward, and reach for the next goal. The whole emotional tone of a tough situation can be transformed through encouragement. Somehow things seem a little brighter.” Julie J. Exline Ph.D.
If our words motivate, influence, and provide strength, why do we hesitate to encourage one another? Most of us understand the importance of encouragement, but we struggle sometimes to show encouragement.
Could our inability to share hope be linked to our own feelings of inadequacy? Or maybe embarrassment that we will stand out when no one else is being positive? Could it be a learned behavior to withhold encouragement for fear that it seems ingenuine or not socially accepted?
All these factors contribute to our silence, but we can overcome these hurdles.
Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and fill us with a new identity that brings confidence. He came to complete us and to turn our mourning into joy and our tears into laughter. There is a hole in our soul that only Christ can fill. When filled with the knowledge that we are His beloved, it frees us to extend love to others. We become more childlike in openly expressing our positive feedback to those around us.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.” Psalm 34:18-19 NLT
“Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s kingdom. What’s more, when you receive the childlike on my account, it’s the same as receiving me.” Matthew 18:3-5 MSG
Why is Encouragement Important
Encouragement is important because even if we understand what the Bible says about encouragement, we can still struggle to apply it to ourselves.
-Seeing encouragement in action solidifies what the Bible says about encouragement.
-Seeing encouragement in action reminds us of its importance in our lives.
As my family prepared to move to another state, our pastor’s wife approached us after our last church service. She looked at me and said, “You will be missed. Your family has been a breath of fresh air to our congregation.” After 20 years, why do I remember exactly what she said to me? Her genuine words encouraged me during an uncertain, stressful time.
Can you remember certain things people have said that caused you to feel strengthened and hope-filled? These tokens of inspiration remind us why encouragement is important. The secret to offering encouragement is to feel encouraged ourselves. We all need people who offer hope, inspire us, brighten our day, and build us up.
“So encourage each other and build each other up just as you are already doing” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT
Encouragement sustains and lifts us. It is like the air in a balloon. Once the air is blown into a flat piece of latex, it expands and floats with a new source of energy. Why is encouragement important? Encouraging words energize our spirit.
“Kind words are like honey; sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Proverbs 16:24 NLT
What is Discouragement
Discouragement is the opposite of being encouraged. Discouragement is a lack of inspiration that steals our hope. We don’t need help answering what discouragement is because we have all experienced its pain and despair.
The problem with discouragement is that it seems to have superpowers, especially when we are struggling, feeling unnoticed, unsupported, or when someone is unkind to us.
Hopelessness can override the positive, and it can linger for a long time, sometimes for life. But we can overcome discouragement with the help of God’s word, prayer, trusted friends, a counselor, and our faith.
Although we can’t eliminate pain in life, we can learn to overcome feelings of discouragement and decide to become agents of encouragement who inspire others.
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.” Proverbs 17:22 NLT
Encourage One Another Daily
What does the Bible say about encouragement? It is a practice that will transform our spirits and those around us.
When my daughters were young, they loved to be in plays. I sat through incredible performances, including Aladdin, The Music Man, Alice in Wonderland, and impromptu, untitled shows in our den. I remember their friends would surround each other and openly offer support and encouragement.
“Great job. You were awesome. I love your voice. Your costume was perfect.” They freely praised each other and modeled how to encourage one another. The kids were inspired and confident in their abilities.
I began to notice a shift when my daughters reached middle school. Instead of cheers and unrestrained joy, their friends would slightly smile or nod, or sometimes they would express nothing. What a sad shift toward indifference this was. There are scientific reasons why many of us begin to hold back emotions, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
We can decide to encourage one another daily and learn how vital it is to our well-being. We can choose to use positive words. If we are not intentional about encouraging one another, this posture of cool restraint can become a new normal and continue into adulthood.
We can struggle expressing ourselves, and instead of feeling encouraged by others, we feel alone and uninspired. What causes us to forget how to encourage one another and build each other up? Can we turn the tide and learn to encourage one another?
We can do this with the help of Jesus, who walked the earth as a mighty encourager. He set an excellent example for everyone. Jesus’ life is the answer to what the Bible says about encouragement!
Jesus said, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 NIV
How Can We Encourage One Another
Sometimes, it is hard to know how we can encourage one another. We feel stuck, uninspired, and empty.
It is pretty magical when we decide to be encouragers; we feel encouraged. Encouragement feeds on itself.
5 Tips to Encourage and Build Each Other Up
Say positive things about and to others. Tell them if they have a nice outfit or pair of glasses, or display a special trait. We have the power to inspire people by expressing our positive thoughts. How many times do we hold back compliments? It may seem unnatural to vocalize kind remarks, especially if not modeled to us, or if we are shy. When we genuinely encourage others, it feels good as the giver and receiver of the compliment.
Be sensitive to others’ feelings and recognize when they need encouragement. We spend a lot of time thinking about ourselves, but when we flip the switch, develop a new pattern, and notice others more, we see things we may have missed. Jesus stresses the importance of prayer when putting aside our needs to encourage and build each other up. Jesus speaks to his disciples who slept as He faced His darkest hour and prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane:
“Then He returned to the disciples and found them asleep. Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matthew 26:40-41 NLT
Put our needs and insecurities aside. It is hard to do this day by day as we face struggles. But noticing others’ needs is part of growing our spiritual identity. Spiritual growth goes hand in hand with generously serving others. At times, we serve not out of an overabundance of energy but from the knowledge that we are children of God who can draw from His strength and pour out love to others.
Focus on Your Identity in Christ. Remember that you are the beloved child of Jesus, the King of Kings. He loved you so much that He died so that you may experience an abundant life. Embracing the knowledge that we are uniquely made and loved helps us see others through the eyes of Christ instead of our flawed vision. Sharing stories of God’s love and mercy encourages others. When we walk in this confidence, encouraging others becomes a natural extension of our identity in Christ.
Study and memorize scripture. The word of God offers solutions to many of our problems, including learning how we can encourage one another. Being an encourager can leave us feeling vulnerable, but knowing God’s word leaves us feeling stronger. When we know what the Bible says about encouragement and model it in our lives, it affects everyone around us.
Bible Verses About Encouragement
What does the Bible say about encouragement? There are many ways the Bible encourages. Every time I pick up the Bible, I am encouraged by an intimate encounter with God. Short phrases, stories, and, of course, the life and death of Jesus will inspire and encourage you.
10 Bible Verses about Encouragement
Here are 10 Bible verses about encouragement to give you strength and hope so you can live encouraged! These scriptures answer the following question: What does the Bible say about encouragement?:
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Romans 12:12
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of hem, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Ephesians 6:10
“Finally, be strong in the lord and in the strength of his might.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Psalm 31:24
“My flesh and hear may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 34:4
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.’
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
John 16:22
“You have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”
These Bible verses are a few examples that teach us what the Bible says about encouragement. The Bible is full of scriptures that provide peace and hope. You can turn to these verses when you need encouragement or when trying to encourage and build others up.
Encouragement from the Bible is our greatest resource for hope!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Butterfly Living
Featured Image by Pexels from Pixabay
