I don’t need to tell you that life can be hard. And even the strongest among us can become worn down by trials and tribulations, so that our faith is weak. Even if we are successful in being faithful to God in hard times, we can still become weary and fainthearted.
So we all need to be encouraged from time to time. And this is why Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, “And we urge you brothers and sisters . . . encourage the fainthearted . . ..” This is God’s word to us today. Let me say it in my own words – “I urge you brothers and sisters, encourage the fainthearted.”
No one is immune from the need for this; no one so spiritual that they are beyond it. Take for instance . . .
The example of David
He is a writer of Psalms and a man after God’s own heart. Yet he struggled mightily at times. Lets look at one instance of this:
- David was anointed to be king of Israel by Samuel the prophet.
- But David was unjustly hated by Saul, the current king. He drove David into the wilderness. He chased after him, trying to kill him.
In Psalm 13:1-2, in the context of his enemies (most likely Saul) David prays – “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemies be exalted over me?”
- He felt impatient with his testing – “How long?”
- He felt forgotten – “Will you forget me forever?”
- He felt like God was far away – “How long will you hide your face from me?”
- His heart was full of sorrow – “How long must I . . . have sorrow in my heart all the day?”
This is a man who needed some encouragement.
And these are exactly the kinds of things all of us feel at times when we get worn down by trials and hardships. And this is when we need encouragement. But what is it that we are supposed to be doing for each other?
What is encouragement?
The word itself means, “support that inspires confidence to move forward.” It has to do with words and actions that support the person in their time of need, when they are weak, fainthearted – so that they will not give up but move forward.
But lets push a bit further by looking at three things that are closely connected to encouragement, that help fill out what encouragement means.
1. Encouraging and strengthening are connected: Deuteronomy 3:28 says, “But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.’
Moses is about to die and the reigns are being handed over to Joshua. He needed to be strengthened to take on such a big task, and with the track record of the people for not being faithful.
Another example is from Acts 15:32 – “And Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, encouraged and strengthened the brothers and sisters with many words.”
This refers to the believers in Antioch, who had just gone through some conflict with various ones questioning if their faith was real. They were no doubt a bit shaken. After the matter was settled these prophets came down from Jerusalem, to strengthen them to move forward.
A final example is from 1 Thessalonians 3:2-3 – “And we sent Timothy . . . to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions.”
These new believers had begun to experience persecution for their faith, and Paul was driven away from them by it. They were, perhaps fearful. And so he sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage them to stay true.
What we learn from these examples is that when we encourage someone, we are giving them strength in their time of weakness; lending some or our strength to them.
2. Encouraging and building up are connected: The word for “build up” literally means to build a house. Figuratively it has to do with a person who needs to be built up. It looks at a person as a building that is broken down, that has been through a storm, that is falling apart and is in need of some repairs, which we seek to provide.
Here’s a couple of verses that connect these two words:
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
- 1 Corinthians 14:3 – “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement . . ..”
(Prophesy is Spirit inspired speech; a word from God to a particular situation.)
What we learn from the connection between these words is that when we encourage someone we are helping them to get put back together again. We are building them back up; repairing what is damaged.
3. Encouraging and stirring up are connected: This comes from Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
The word “stir up” actually means to irritate someone. Here it means to incite someone to do good. So encouraging can involve pushing someone to move forward.
Just as the word encourage in a literalistic sense means to ‘put courage in someone.’ When we encourage someone, we are putting some fire in them to move forward. The kind of encouraging a football coach does at half-time when the team is down. And sometimes that’s what is needed.
Lets end with an example of encouragement, which is a model for us . . .
The example of Jonathan
This is in the context of what we saw of David’s life at the beginning. David was fleeing Saul. And Jonathan, Saul’s son, but also a friend of David, came to him.
1 Samuel 23:16-17 says, “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God. And he said to him, “Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel . . ..”
- He came to be with him in his time of need. Being with someone can be powerful in itself.
- He also spoke words of encouragement. He said, God will fulfill his purpose for you, even though you are stuck out here in the wilderness.
In David’s weakness, Jonathan strengthened him, built him up and spurred him on. Jonathan gave him the support he needed that inspired confidence in him to move forward.
And that is what God calls each of us to do with each other. Again, 1 Thessalonians 5:14 says, “And we urge you brothers and sisters . . . encourage the fainthearted . . ..”
Be Jonathans, each of you! Encourage those in our midst who need it; those who find themselves in the place of David in Psalm 13:
- Those who feel impatient with God’s plan
- Those who feel forgotten
- Those who feel like God is far away
- Those whose hearts are full of sorrow
Let us be aware of the needs of those around us and let us minister to them.
William Higgins
Christian teaching 