Do you need to encourage someone?
When was the last time you felt meaningfully encouraged by another believer? Many of us may be able to quickly call to mind a conversation, maybe even from the past week. Others may struggle to remember a distinct moment we felt encouraged. Some will feel they have experienced godly encouragement when they haven’t. Others will assume they have not experienced godly encouragement when they actually have. Perhaps many of us fail to experience and extend encouragement because we don’t yet know what encouragement is. The way we often use encouragement today, it could mean mere comfort or affirmation. “You did a great job on that project.” “You’re a very good mother.” “Everything’s going to be okay.” But biblical encouragement, though often rich with affirmation, offers something far stronger and more invigorating. While poor encouragement may inflame pride or coddle self-pity, real encouragement cultivates humility, courage, and, above all, hope in God. While poor encouragement might justi...