The One Anothers

Everyone needs encouragement.  Everyone.

Think for a moment, the difference it has made when someone leaned into your space to bring hope and assurance.  Sometimes we’re blind to our strengths until someone else points them out. We can do the same for another.

Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Our words have the power to build or break.  The meaning of the word means to urge forward or come alongside. When encouragement is absent from the church it can cause someone to feel unaccepted, unloved or forgotten.  When I walked into a church for the first time many years ago, I felt like a wildflower in the middle of a rose garden – totally out of place. Totally. At the time, my world was ridiculously upside-down, so it only took a judgmental grimace to assure me I was right.   But one smile and extended hand made the difference.

How little it takes to be Jesus to one another.

We should never underestimate our words – it’s a matter of transferring strength to another who’s feeling a little weak in the knees.  It’s not about a compliment or pat on the back with a “you got this” but true biblical encouragement has a purpose to lift another’s heart – to coach their soul.

We are surrounded by discouragement and battles. When we face the hard pieces of our story, encouraging words bring life and hope. Just a simple “I believe in you” can make all the difference in someone’s day.  Somehow, the people closest to us are often the last to hear it from us – maybe because we think they already know how we feel.

And for me, maybe for you – encouragement has come through the silence. I’m grateful for the faithful encouragers who have been present on my path just willing to sit down in the dust and ashes alongside of me . . . so often.

Perhaps the challenge in front of you is so overwhelming words of others seem to fall short right now but, we have the ability to encourage ourselves through the Word of God as David did.  The Psalms are a great place to begin and remain. David penned the beauty of his journey leaving pages of encouragement for us today. He’s been a good one another to me . . . read Psalm 13.

And David was greatly distressed but he strengthened himself in the Lord his God. 1 Samuel 30:6

May you be a blessing and receive a blessing through the one anothers this day . . .

. . . love one another John 13:34

. . . pray for one another James 5:1

. . . forgiving one another Colossians 3:13

. . . welcome one another Romans 15:7

. . . be at peace with one another Mark 9:50