Be An Encourager

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is {still} called "Today," lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

-- Heb 3:13 nasb

There is a great need in our lives today for encouragement. When we are facing the difficulties and duties of daily living, we often need the love, support, and encouragement of some friend, family member, or colleague.

Recently I was struggling with the finances of our new ministry. As a “faith-based” ministry, we live daily waiting on God to do something that we do not yet see. While feeling particularly low one morning, I received e-mail from a friend in India. This young man who himself struggles with personal finances and living expenses wrote this note:

I was amazed to see a man like U, who obeys the voice of the Lord and does the will of the Lord even we are secured in other things. I mean to say u were really secured with the pastoral ministry but even then U obeyed the voice of the Lord and gave ur life for evangelical ministry with the financial struggle. I have to learn many things from U. Praise the Lord.

Uncle, I too want to help U financially but Indian rupee has got very less value there. But I know one thing Our God can help U, so I started praying with U and Jehovah Jirah will supply all Ur needs. The God who Took Israelites out of Egypt and supplied all there needs for His Name sake is there with u.

He provided electricity - Light thru a Pillar of Fire.

He provided A/c by a Pillar of Clouds.

He gave them the best food Manna - which is tastier than American Pizza.

He provided the non-vegetarian (Quail) which was tastier than Tandoori in Trident.

He helped their garments to be Untorable even Raymonds and Reid & tailors can't make it.

This Almighty God can do Impossible into Possible, so I pray and trust God that He will meet all your expenses. Amen. With Lots of Luv, Bennet.

Wow! What a word of encouragement from a fellow-laborer in Christ. I want to take a look at this little note and draw from it the principles of encouragement we can all use day-by-day.

Encouragement begins in Affirmation

Everyone, and especially those who serve the Lord in a “full-time” capacity, needs to hear words of affirmation. When a person is particularly low, they crave words of affirmation. While it is true that all of us have the affirmation of God (through His word, and His spirit) it is sometimes good to receive it from others that our lives have touched. Affirmation usually involves an intimate, personal knowledge of the person we are encouraging. It means that we are drawing on the experiences we have enjoyed with the person. Affirmation is about character, calling, and commitment. We need to always remind people that their life is ordered and organized by the Master himself.

The actual word that the writer of Hebrews uses here is (Gk.) Parakaleo, which literally means to “call near.” It carries with it the idea of “coming beside of” as in fellowship. The writer is concerned about the spiritual welfare of his readers and does not want them to “fall away” (Heb. 3:12). The “living God” is the source of all encouragement.

Encouragement involves Appreciation

One of the pitfalls of Christians is a feeling of frustration. We sometimes feel as if no one at all even notices us and appreciates us. While this feeling is always the result of misplaced emotions (looking for the appreciation of man rather than God) it is real nonetheless. We are emotional beings, and our emotions are circumstantially driven. All of us have known times when we were feeling alone, abandoned, and forgotten. The psalmist felt this way when he penned the words of Psalm 88.

O LORD, the God of my salvation, I have cried out by day and in the night before Thee. Let my prayer come before Thee; incline Thine ear to my cry! For my soul has had enough troubles, and my life has drawn near to Sheol. I am reckoned among those who go down to the pit; I have become like a man without strength, Forsaken among the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom Thou dost remember no more, and they are cut off from Thy hand. Thou hast put me in the lowest pit, in dark places, in the depths. Thy wrath has rested upon me, and Thou hast afflicted me with all Thy waves. Selah. Thou hast removed my acquaintances far from me; Thou hast made me an object of loathing to them; I am shut up and cannot go out.

-- Ps 88:1-8

This is a man who certainly needs some encouragement. He says he feels like a dead man, rejected, ridiculed, and restless. All of his friends are gone and he is all alone. He is in the lowest pit he has ever known.

Sometimes these feelings are the result of sin in our life, other times the reason is not so clear. In any case, we need to love, support, and appreciation of our friends. You can be an encourager even in the midst of sin, pain, and frustrations in the life of our friend. Share with them that they have purpose, usefulness, and goals that are yet to be realized. Let them know that you appreciate what they have done in service in days gone by.

Encouragement includes Application

No word of encouragement is complete unless it is grounded in the Word of God. My friend from India was quick to use the Bible as the basis for his words of encouragement. He pointed out the marvelous ways that God had worked in the past to accomplish exactly what was needed in the life of those who served Him. His parallel of God’s dealings with the children of Israel was inspired. He made a careful application of the nature and character of God into my life today.

We must always remember that God’s nature is unchanging. He promises to provide for, care for, and sustain His children. When you are acting as an encourager, be certain to ground your encouragement in the Word of God.

All of us need the encouragement of friends. I trust that you will allow God to mold you and fashion you into an encourager today.