Encouragement goes two ways. When you encourage someone else, whether with music or words, you will most likely find that you have been encouraged yourself. When you support someone else, it is like giving a gift. Often times, giving a gift is more fun than receiving one. Seeing the excitement, or appreciation, or relief, in someone else’s eyes – because of what you did – is one of the most fabulous feelings in life. Encouragers are beloved people. So why don’t we encourage people more?
It is so easy to speak carelessly, not considering what impact your words might have on those who hear. It is hard to give encouragement when you only see the mistakes other people make. But take a moment and consider what God sees when He looks at us. Compared to Him, can we do anything right? Can we do anything praiseworthy? Yet He still encourages us. He still speaks such words of love to us in the Bible. He still gives us blessing after blessing.
Many times, children end up pursuing a career related to something that someone – a parent, a teacher – told them once that they were good at doing. Just a few words of encouragement can change a person’s life. Encouragement brings renewed energy, increased commitment, and confirmation of paths. Just as a single word of discouragement can cause the opposite.
So be careful with your words, and search for ways to encourage those around you.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29