Encourage

Photo by Ankush Minda on Unsplash

What is the best way to encourage someone? How can we give hope and encourage another person in the face of the worst life has to offer?

Something encourages us when it pierces through the defenses and layers of self protection from the worst of what we have gone through, are currently experiencing, or will experience in life, which have discouraged us, is discouraging us, or could possibly discourage us.

The Apostle Paul shared the greatest news of encouragement with the Thessalonian church, saying, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11, ESV).

The most encouraging word ever is—God is not angry with us, and God has not destined us for destruction, but God has destined us for his salvation and life.

God desires us to be awake and aware and to live fully with him.

Because of this good news of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that we might live with him, we can be encouraged, and we can encourage one another and build one another up with this same encouraging hope.

As the author of Hebrews writes, “Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” (Hebrews 3:13, NIV).

May we encourage one another and build one another up daily so that we are encouraged ourselves and are soft-hearted to encourage those around us with the good news of the salvation of Jesus.

In Christ alone, Robbie

A Prayer For The Discouraged And Downcast: “O God, almighty and merciful, you heal the broken-hearted, and turn the sadness of the sorrowful to joy, Let your fatherly goodness be upon all whom you have made. Remember in pity all those who are this day destitute, homeless, elderly, infirm, or forgotten. Bless the multitude of your poor. Lift up those who are cast down. Mightily befriend innocent sufferers, and sanctify to them the endurance of their wrongs. Cheer with hope all who are discouraged and downcast, and by your heavenly grace preserve from falling those whose poverty tempts them to sin. Though they be troubled on every side, suffer them not to be distressed; though they are perplexed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of him who for our sakes became poor, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).

Photo by Ankush Minda on Unsplash