Encourage And Be Encouraged!

December 4, 2025

Encourage And Be Encouraged!

From time to time, we all need a word of encouragement. 

Maybe we experienced a difficult day at work or a strained family relationship or the grief of loosing someone we love. 

Maybe we experienced a defeat in the game or the loneliness of being single or are going through a tough divorce. 

Maybe we have experienced someone’s dishonesty or betrayal by a close friend or our own moral failure.

Maybe we have experienced distance in our relationship with Jesus or not enough money to pay our bills or uncertainty about what our next step might be.

From time to time, we all need a word of encouragement. 

We feel angry because we were hurt.  We feel sad because we lost something or someone important.  We feel alone because someone pulled away.  We feel discontent because things do not change.  We feel misunderstood because it seems nobody cares.

From time to time, we all need a word of encouragement. 

Disappointment, disillusionment, and defeat leave us discouraged.  Despair creeps into our normally positive outlook on life.  Dejection slips into our normally optimistic engagement with our friends.  Desperateness seeps into our normally enthusiastic desire for the next new thing.

From time to time, we all need a word of encouragement. 

The Apostle Paul writes a letter to the churches in Rome during the first century.  The churches are suffering intense persecution from the Roman government.  They are coerced into worshipping the Emperor of Rome as a god rather than worshipping the Lord God as the one and only god.

The Christ-followers in Rome are getting discouraged.  There seems to be no spontaneous rescue by the Lord God.  Some of their family and friends have been tortured or imprisoned or executed.  Their ability to persevere is waning…fast.  In his letter, Paul offers them a word of encouragement.

In Romans 1:12 Paul writes; “…or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.”  What is interesting is that Paul is writing to encourage the Christ-followers in Rome while hoping that their faith in Jesus will also encourage him.

Paul writes another letter to the Christ-followers in Thessalonica.  Again, the theme focuses upon encouraging one another so all may be built up.  In I Thessalonians 5:11 we hear; “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.”

In another letter to another city, Paul again focuses upon the importance of encouraging other Christ-followers.  In Colossians 2:2 Paul writes; “I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ…”

The instruction to encourage one another was not something that only the Apostle Paul believed was important.  In the book of Acts, we hear about a Christian teacher named Apollos.  Apollos was a relatively new Christ-follower who was filled with passion and enthusiasm to share the way to salvation through Jesus the Christ.

As Apollos prepares to leave to preach in Achaia, several Christ-followers gather around him to offer words of encouragement.  In Acts 18:27 we hear; “And when he (Apollos) wished to cross over to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him.  On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers…”

From time to time, we all need a word of encouragement. 

+Who is one person you know who would be blessed by a word of encouragement from you today?

+What would it look like if you offered a word of encouragement to a different person each day for the next seven days?

+Who is the person the Holy Spirit uses most often to give you a word of encouragement?  Is it finally time to invite that person to share a cup of coffee and share your need for a word of encouragement?

Encouragement creates a fertile place in our heart and mind and soul where peace and joy and love can grow.  Encouragement, both giving and receiving, creates a fertile place for our heart to take delight in the Lord’s goodness, greatness, and grace. 

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug