The Gift of Encouragement
Page Five
The Bible says that as we are encouraged and comforted, so we can comfort others: “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 1:3-5).
Once we have sensed God’s comfort and encouragement, we are commanded to encourage one another. I Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you are doing.”
Who Needs It?
Everyone you know, everyone you meet, needs encouragement.
Husbands and wives
Sometimes men and women who are great encouragers in public are not so aware of the need for encouraging their own husband or wife.
One woman said to me, “I wouldn’t encourage my husband. He already has the big head.” His wife didn’t see beneath his overly confident exterior to his inner need for encouragement and support. He no doubt felt insecure and was reflecting this in his apparent “big head.” Indeed, one of the great blessings of marriage is having a spouse who understands and encourages you.
Parents
No child should ever go through one day without hearing his mother or father, or both, say warm, helpful, encouraging words.
“Oh, but if you only knew how ornery my kids are,” I’ve heard a parent say, “you’d have a hard time saying nice things to them.” Maybe so, but these children are the very ones who need their parents’ encouragement the most. They are not likely to get much from anyone else, especially if they are the “acting-up” kind. But you can almost watch a child change as a parent begins to compliment him. The reverse is also true. Keep withholding praise and compliments from a child and he’ll wither inside and his behavior will begin to demonstrate how he feels.
Encouragement is to emotional growth and maturity what food is to physical growth and well-being.
Brothers and sisters
“That’s my brother,” Mary said to her friend when a boy began to play his trumpet. When the performance was over, she rushed to him and said, “You were just great, Bill!”
Not all brothers and sisters are like this. But they should be taught to encourage each other. The family is a learning center where lifetime habits are formed.
Grandparents
One day a woman pointed to a cute little girl and said to me, “That’s my granddaughter.” There was a world of pride in her voice. Then the grandmother added, “I have to keep telling her she’s beautiful, because her mother keeps saying to her, ‘I wish you weren’t so ugly.’”
Most mothers aren’t like this. But some are, and children go through life suffering from an unhealthy self-concept as a result. It doesn’t always have to do with the child’s looks. “You’re stupid,” or “slow,” or “clumsy,” a parent may say. It doesn’t take long for the child to feel this is true, and it can become self-fulfilling in his life. Grandparents can do wonders for their grandchildren by offering tons of encouragement and praise.
 Nothing so motivates a person
to greater productivity than to know
that he or she is appreciated.
Children and grandchildren can be equally encouraging to grandparents. Few things in life uplift senior citizens than words of affection, appreciation, and encouragement from their children and grandchildren.
Employees
There’s no better way to bring out the best in an employee than to make him feel adequate and important on the job. I know a person who seldom walks past a desk in his organization without pausing to express his appreciation to the staff member.
It takes so little time or effort just to notice a person or say something that makes him know that you know he is there and is an important part of the organization.
In a sense, the employer who has learned the value of complimenting and encouraging his staff is really doing himself a great favor. For nothing so motivates a person to greater productivity than to know that he or she is appreciated.
Students
Some children don’t know what it is to leave home in the morning with the blessing of an encouraging word from a parent. All the more then, the teacher needs to be mindful of how important a helpful word and a smile is to the children who spend several hours each day in his or her class.
Many a young person has grown up to be a better person and to be more successful in life than he otherwise might have been because a teacher reached out to him with encouragement.
The pastor and people
In every church service there are those who are rarely encouraged by others. What an opportunity then, for the pastor to exercise this “gift of helps” at every level of his ministry.
No pastor will ever have all the hours it would take to meet every need of every member of his congregation, even if he were equipped to do it. But there are certain things he can do, and one of the most important doesn’t take all that much time.
A good sermon encourages people. It gives them hope and helps them see the wonderful things God has for them in life. Even a very direct, honest message about our sins and failures should end on an incredibly encouraging note. We can be different. God has forgiven us. Let’s move ahead!
And don’t forget your pastor. He needs encouragement, too.
First Steps To Becoming The World’s Best Encourager
Research tells us that it usually takes 30 to 60 days to form most new habits if the desired behavior is practiced daily. Why not take up the challenge to encourage just one person each day. Who can you encourage? There is no end to the possibilities.
With time, the Lord will begin to give you a keen eye and heart for those who need encouragement the most. Maybe your grandchild or a co-worker is going through a tough time. Perhaps you know of a family who is reeling from the loss of a job or a loved one.
Encouragement can become an exciting adventure. But be careful, it’s highly habit-forming! Try encouraging others for a month or two and you will begin to feel like you and the Lord have a great secret going. Through prayer, God will also place upon your heart those who need encouragement the most. In other words, you are listening and observing intently.
Encouragers listen for those who need encouragement. They soon begin to develop a heightened awareness of those who need one of life’s most important things—ENCOURAGEMENT!
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Dr. Clyde Narramore is the Founder of the Narramore Christian Foundation, was President for half-a-century, and is a well-known radio and conference speaker, and author.
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