“How are you doing? No, how are you really doing?” This is a question I remember hearing when I attended church back in high school. The person asking really wanted to know how I was doing. He was not looking for the typical, “I’m fine” response. His intent then was to offer encouragement for whatever I was going through at the time. That is, if I had the courage to really let him know how I was doing.
It is easy to be focused on ourselves right now. To get stuck thinking about what we are going through and how difficult our situation might be. But, the Bible calls for us to be encouragers.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Encouragement is like a gentle push forward when we have run out of energy. It is a pat on the back that appreciates work you have done. It is acknowledgement that you made a difference in someones life. When someone encourages us, we stand straighter. We feel energized. We move with purpose and meaning. Encouragement strengthens us to move on and face what lies ahead.
There is a difference between worldly encouragement and Biblical encouragement. Encouragement from the world may look like fans in the stands watching a sports game. Yelling and cheering on the team that you want to win. This cheering is invigorating in the moment, but it is different than Biblical encouragement. Biblical encouragement goes deeper than boosting ones self-esteem.
The Greek word for encourage that Paul uses in the scripture verse above is “parakaleite”. It specifically means to comfort one another by getting up close and personal. To console and strengthen. This type of encouragement forges a strong bond.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by god.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Encouragement is the key to building relationship and connection. To come alongside. Encouragement is not a one and done kind of thing. It is not yelling your heart out for a couple hours at a competition and then walking away. By using words that build up, we help someone navigate through tough times. Your encouragement gives the person strength to stand strong and face their battles.
What we say to each other matters. We are all facing struggles and unknowns. Keep encouraging one another. Our God is bigger than our present circumstances.