The Power of Encouragement

One of the most powerful tools we possess is our ability to encourage. The more I understand its power, the more I realize how necessary encouragement is. As I journey through life, I have quickly discovered what encouragement does for the heart. It is one of the most ​extraordinary things we can give and lovingly receive.

I’m a student of encouragement, and one of my favorite people to learn from is Barnabas because he had a heart of encouragement. The heart of an encourager looks at people and says “there is hope for this person, I believe in this person, I believe they have changed, give them a chance, lets bring them into the family of God”. An encourager will always look at others and see the best. If we want to encourage people, we have to give them trust, build them up with confidence, and stand with them. Often our lack of encouragement comes from a vulnerable place that is defined by our insecurity and fear that they will let us down. Have you ever thought, “I shouldn’t encourage that person to (fill in the blank) because they might fail?” We can’t prescribe the outcome, but the journey can be a magnificent success with encouragement. When we make a choice to encourage, we are making a choice to do the work God has called us to do. In every Church, in every home, in every friendship, and in every relationship, we need a Barnabas. We are called to be a Barnabas. The word of an encourager brings people to the Lord.

I am often under the impression that the foremost reason we lack the ability to encourage is because we haven’t had a good dose of encouragement ourselves. It is easy to encourage when others encourage us first, but the reality is, if you wait for someone to encourage you first, you’ll wait too long to be obedient in what God has called you to do… encourage.

Too many people are in need of encouragement for us to waste our time waiting for someone else to make the first move. Just start pouring it into people NOW. I think you will be surprised how the Lord will honor your willingness.

Love you all,

-Trent

So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it. 1 Thessalonians 5:11