“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV)
Encouraging one another doesn’t sound so hard. A fist bump here, an ‘atta girl’ there. A quick text to say “Hang in there, you can do this!” A hug when you see a friend in person.
Encouraging one another sounds pretty easy . . . until you realize it’s not.
What happens when she gets the opportunity that passed you by? What about when your co-worker gets the credit for a job well done that couldn’t have happened without you? When that mom in your moms’ group has everything already figured out? When it’s a weary looking shopper in the cereal aisle at the grocery? When it’s your spouse as you meet to unravel a financial mess you *may* attribute to their bookkeeping? When it’s another family member, and you worry about embarrassing yourself or them?
Encouragement sounds simple, but if our own emotions get in the way, it can actually be rather difficult to “encourage one another and build each other up.” She doesn’t need me to tell her she’s doing a good job, she must know already. I don’t even know that lady - she’ll think I’m kooky. Don’t we want to be encouraged? Don’t we deserve to be built up by another?
We do. You do. But the Lord doesn’t give us a free pass to withhold encouragement because of jealousy or fear.
He does ask us to speak life into the hearts of the people in our lives no matter what, because that’s what He does for us.
I know it can be hard. I know that for many reasons, you may not always feel like building someone else up. Encouraging, uplifting words don’t always come naturally, and there can be a fear of those words - of our hearts - being rejected.
Anytime we put our hearts on the line, we take a leap of faith. But in the leaping, we allow the Lord to hold our hand.
Offer the encouraging word nearly spilling from your lips, held back only by fear. Grab the hand of God and let Him guide you - following His lead will never let you down. Encourage one another and build each other up. Simple - and sometimes difficult - as that.
How - who - can you boldly encourage and build up this week?
Who comes to mind that you should encourage? Take this opportunity to reach out, give them a phone call. Share the love of Jesus with those around you on a daily basis!
