Encourage One Another

How long can you stand barefooted in a bucket of ice water?  Hadn’t thought about it, had you?  Well, believe it or not, a psychological group conducted an experiment several years ago using that very technique to measure people’s capacity to endure pain. They discovered one factor that caused people to stand in the ice water twice as long as others.  Can you guess what it was? Encouragement.  When another person was present during the experiment to lend support and give encouragement, the sufferers were able to endure pain much longer than those who had to suffer alone.

 Encouragement is Important

            God places a high value on encouragement.  It is important to our Christian walk and to our ability to remain faithful.  Christianity was never meant to be a solo act.  We are not created to go it alone.  We need each other.

Paul exhorted, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thess 5:11).

To encourage is to inspire, embolden, and hearten.  It suggests “the raising of one’s confidence, especially by an external agency.”  Christians are to be agents of encouragement.  The Hebrew writer admonished “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Heb 3:13).

Dr. David Jeremiah was right when he wrote, “The body of Christ is a family whose members are to be mutually involved with one another.  One of the one-another ministries God calls us to practice is the ministry of encouragement.”

Ministry of encouragement?  Yes!  In Romans 12, Paul spoke of the various gifts we have been given and types of ministries in which we are to engage  and said, “if it is encouraging, let us encourage.”

How Are We Encouraged?

            1. By what we sense. Job’s three friends came to encourage him in a time of deep despair.  In the end, they became a discouragement!  But they did do something right in the beginning, they came and sat with him for seven days and said nothing!  Job sensed their encouragement.

We often speak of “being there” for another.  When we are, emotionally, as well as physically, they sense our encouragement.

2. By what we read.  The letters of the New Testament were often written for the purpose of encouragement.  Encouragement to remain faithful.  To overcome sin. To correct wrongs.  To grow in faith.  Reading the Word will encourage you.

We may also encourage others by the notes, cards, letters and emails that we send.  I am blessed to receive so much encouragement in this fashion.  I never, ever take it for granted.  I never tire of hearing it.  And I am always lifted when I read the encouraging words from my friends and spiritual family.

            3. By what we hear.  “Anxiety in the heart of man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad” (Prov. 12:25).  A good word lifts.  Brings a smile to the face.  Clears a tear from the eyes.  Encourages the heart that is heavy.

            4. By what we feel. The touch of another’s hand.  A warm embrace. A pat on the back.  These non verbal actions transmit encouragement to others. The wise man said, “there is a time to embrace” (Eccl. 3:5).  Ever notice how many times it says Jesus touched someone?  The Bible even speaks of “the holy kiss”  among the brethren. The point is we are encouraged by what we feel from others.

One of the best definitions of “encouragement” I’ve ever read is ”pouring courage into someone who needs it.”  Look around and see who is discouraged, disheartened, or demoralized and pour some courage into them.  Instead of pointing a critical finger, lend a help hand.  Encourage a friend, family member, or fellow Christian today!