4 Biblical Ways to Be An Encouragement to Others

The months leading up to my 25th birthday were hard.

With an unexpected loss in the family, heightened anxiety, feeling purposeless and deeply discontent in my singleness, I was going through a bit of a “quarter-life crisis” and actually kind of dreading turning 25.

So imagine my surprise when I walked into the room expecting a small dinner with my family, and several of my friends appeared from their hiding places, with gifts and balloons.

My family had planned a little surprise to brighten my birthday and encourage my heart.

Encourage means “to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope”.

We all go through times when we’re discouraged and in need of encouragement.

There’s a lot in this world that can un-inspire us; that deflates our hope, dampens our courage, and depresses our spirits.

We all need encouragers in our lives - people who say, I believe in you when our self-confidence is low; who say You can do it when we’re facing something hard; who say I’m happy for you, proud of you, inspired by you when we pursue our dreams, go after new opportunities, and step into what God is calling us to do.

Most importantly, they encourage us by reminding us of who God is, who we are in Christ, and who we are called to be as we walk in step with the Spirit.

A Call to Encourage

​The Bible has a lot to say about encouraging one another:

We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.
Romans 15:2

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

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
1 Thessalonians 5:14

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
​Hebrews 10:24

​As followers of Jesus, we are called to be encouragers. Our words and actions should benefit, help, uplift, inspire, affirm, and motivate others in their faith.

As I said before, there is so much in this world that discourages us, knocking us down and holding us back from stepping out in faith, speaking the truth in love, and shining our light.

The enemy lies to us about our identity and purpose, stirring up insecurities that say we’re alone, incapable, unqualified, unloveable, unworthy, and not good enough.

But encouragement speaks the truth of our identity in Christ, saying, You are seen and loved and valued. You have worth and purpose that go beyond popularity and success. You CAN do all things through Christ, because He is enough for you, in you, and through you.

When this truth takes root in the heart, hope and confidence bloom. Others are built up in their faith, affirmed in their identity in Christ, spurred on to be who God created them to be, and brave to do what He has called them to do.

This is the power of encouragement.

How to Be An Encouragement to Others

When we read in Scripture about encouragement, from the promises that encourage our own hearts, to the instructions that call us to encourage others, to the stories that display what encouragement looks like lived out, we see many ways in which we can encourage others:

We encourage with our words

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up.
​Proverbs 12:25

Speaking words of kindness is probably the first thing that comes to mind when we think about how to encourage others.

Just as the Bible has a lot to say about encouragement, it also has a lot to say about how we use our words, because our words have power.

We can use our words to encourage others by… 

• Complimenting them, especially complimenting them beyond their appearance
• Cheering them on in their endeavors, pursuits, and opportunities
• Not saying things that would belittle, demean, or stir up quarrels
• And sometimes by not talking at all, but listening instead

We encourage with our actions

In humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.
​Philippians 2:3-4

​​We can say encouraging things to others, but does how we treat them match up?

When we treat others with respect and care, it shows that we see them as people of worth, created in the image of God.

We encourage others with our actions by…

• Finding ways to help them and meet their needs
• Doing special things for them just because
• Being present with them in both the hard and happy stuff
• Being considerate of their experiences, perspectives, and interests
• Inviting them into friendship with us

We encourage with our attitudes

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
​Philippians 2:5

​The attitude Jesus had was one of humility, selflessness, and compassion (See Philippians 2:6-8).

Do we have this same attitude in our interactions with others?

If we say nice words and do nice deeds, but are proud, selfish, and indifferent in our hearts, we’re missing the whole point of encouraging others.

Because the encouraging things we say and do are to be both a testimony of the transformational work God has done in us, and a reflection of God’s character to others, to point them to Him.

We can encourage others with our attitude by…

• Serving with joy and generosity
• Being compassionate towards others
• Being humble and willing to learn from others
• Not complaining

​We encourage with our faith

Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, I have not stopped thanking God for you.
​Ephesians 1:15-16

​When we live out our faith, this can be an encouragement to others.

It can help them see the goodness and faithfulness of God, know they are not alone, have hope when things are hard, stand strong in the face of temptation, and be inspired to grow in their own faith in the Lord.

We can be an encouragement in our faith by…

• Being obedient to God
• Sharing about what God has done in our lives
• Being vulnerable about our struggles and how God is convicting us
• Asking others to share about their walk with God, both where they’re seeing Him show up, and where they’re struggling
• Praying for and with others

I encourage you to look for ways you can be an encouragement to others, sharing with them the hope, joy, and confidence you have found in Christ.