by Desiree Bustamante

Encouragement is a grace-filled reminder of God’s love for us.

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“When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”
Romans 1:12 New Living Translation

Receiving encouragement is like celebrating a day full of sunshine when we’ve been living under a layer of thick dark clouds. We know the Son is out there somewhere, but we’ve lost sight of Him under the darkness. When discouragement fills our hearts, often God sends a person or Scripture specifically to revitalize us in that moment. God doesn’t want us to face our fears alone but to stay strong in all adversity and every opportunity He presents to us that may also seem daunting. Because He loves us dearly, God encourages us through His word, His creation and His people.

God also empowers us to encourage others in this journey of life. Many examples are written in Scripture recounting the times God asked particular people to reassure someone. He asked Moses to strengthen Joshua as he was about to lead Israel to the promised land. King Hezekiah encouraged the people to be courageous in the face of King Assyria’s army, reminding them that God was on their side. Several times Jesus spoke to those he healed to be encouraged, then adding that their sins had been forgiven or their faith had made them well. Paul constantly encouraged the Christians in the early church not to give up the faith.

God desires us to be generous with encouragement to everyone, just as He uplifts us in our times of despair. Those who are hurting, hesitant, or hopeless need to know that God is with them. Go and reassure others that no one is forgotten by Him.

As Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica:

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 New Living Translation

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