Encourage One Another

The word encouragement can have different meanings and different impacts depending on the situation. In 2 Corinthians 13:11 Paul calls for encouragement, “Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.” This word encouragement is parakaleō in the Greek and has a range of meanings from summoning, to speak, or even to teach. The definitions in context we want to focus on today are the ones where it is used to talk about how we comfort, exhort, and strengthen one another. In 2 Corinthians 1:4 we are called to comfort others when they have trouble since we have been comforted by God Himself. In 1 Thessalonians 4:18 Paul wanted them to use his words to strengthen each other’s faith and be encouraged when persecution came. Encouraging one another helps us to not get entangled in sin’s mess (Hebrews 3:13). From these passages, we can see that encouragement is different depending on the situation. Sometimes someone might need comfort and our presence is enough. Sometimes, we need to use Scripture to help someone in a particular situation. Other times, just being in fellowship can bring great encouragement and uplift someone. Encouragement can take many forms and it may take discernment to determine how to best help someone. The best thing to do is just be there for those that need encouragement and do it more and more as we await the return of the Lord Jesus.