The Shaping Virtues - Encouragement
To encourage means to give support, confidence, or hope. God delights to strengthen and sustain his people through the ministry of encouragement. There is nothing more encouraging to our souls than knowing that because of Christ, we are and will always remain in right standing with God. Encouragement is designed by God to build faith and impart grace to keep us going in our Christian walk. Because we live in a fallen world, and because even as believers we can grow discouraged and weary as we serve, suffer, and battle remaining sin, encouragement is a daily necessity.
Effective encouragement focuses on who God is, what he has done for us in Christ, and his promises of ongoing work in our lives. These truths include God’s fatherly affection and care for his children, his steadfast love, persistent grace, everlasting mercy, enduring patience, sovereign power, and infinite wisdom. It includes his promises to work all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), that his grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9), and that in all the ups and downs of life he “will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Jude assures us that he is able “to keep you from stumbling and present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (Jude 24). We can “hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). It is no wonder that Paul calls him “The God of endurance and encouragement” (Romans 15:5)!
Although every believer can and must encourage themselves in the Lord, the emphasis in Scripture falls on the privilege, joy, and responsibility we have to discover evidences of grace in others and remind each other of the truth. In Paul’s visits and letters, he regularly encouraged the recipients by reminding them of God’s character and promises and by pointing out his grace in their lives. Paul and Barnabas strengthened “the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22).
Every believer is exhorted to “encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We are to “exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13). “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). Note that we proactively “consider” how to make this happen. Effective encouragers perceive other’s graces and needs, whether big and small, and are prepared to speak when opportunities arise.