“How does it feel when you are encouraged by someone? Do you usually take advice in a positive way or do you feel uncomfortable when you are being encouraged by someone?” Kuya Monjhet asked each of us this question during our small group devotion. We gathered every Friday to listen to God’s word, we worship, we bond, we eat and we laugh. Fellowship. This is how we get our strength from the whole week of stress from work, and or school, at home and all. We all have the tendency to be preoccupied with the busyness of the world but we try to meet once a week to build each other up.

Some of the answers are:

“I feel special. It feels good because you feel you are loved”

“I don’t usually get some encouragement from people besides my sisters and mom, maybe because people think I am just fine, I joke around all the time. They do not know what I am going through but it always feels good when someone encourages you, it gives you strength”

“I am good at encouraging others but when someone encourages me, it doesn’t get within me”

“During the time I was really down, someone encouraged me and it helps me to keep going and not to give up.”

It feels better!

“I want to give up, I want to die! I just can’t take this anymore”

Did you ever say this to yourself or ever feel this way? I did. I would not deny that there were times in my younger years. I release these words and thoughts did run to my head. I thought that I could not make it, I thought it was the end and would not be able to keep going because of the trials, pains, and sufferings I was going through. Everybody has different kinds of difficulties. For others, it’s not that hard but for others it is. But one thing is for sure, there is a cry inside that we want to be understood somehow.

People nowadays seek attention through social media. I have no problem with them posting different stuff marketing themselves. I also do selfies and cover songs, though! 🙂 So this is not to judge anyone. But most of them who shared lengthy and dramatic posts problems about their family, love life and all, are mostly the ones who need to be encouraged, seeking someone to understand. Selfies are also a way for people to want to be noticed. Everyone seeks attention and affection. They want to be accepted and appreciated.

When someone takes time to listen and give you words of wisdom during troubles, it makes you feel better, special and loved. I also felt this, I do not seek advice or comfort from anyone, because to tell you the truth I am so good in covering myself by smiling and laughing. It confirmed when a missionary discerned me that I was going through hard time but I am so good in covering it. So, yeah! That is me. But believe me, encouragement like that penetrates deep inside my heart.

Good thing about encouragement, it always makes you feel better. So what are you waiting for? Find someone now who needs your simple words like “I care for you”. “I appreciate you” “Whatever you are going through, remember I will always be here” “I believe in you, you can make this” and more.

It pushes you beyond your limit.

Encouragement doesn’t only give you the feeling of being loved and special but it also pushes you to do greater. When someone believes in you, you start to feel confident. If you do not trust yourself and yet there are people around you trust you, it gives you the courage to go beyond your limit.

Hebrews 3:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

¹³but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin

Exhort means to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something. The Bible tells us to do it daily to one another. Why? Nowadays, as we can see, the enemy is trying to give us the life that we think the best for us. Clubs and bars are full while churches are empty. What do you do when your friend is choosing the other way instead of running towards God when in pain or downcast?

We are reminded to urge someone to be in God’s love all the time. The world offers great things in our eyes but we still lack of peace, joy and sometimes or all the time we feel left out or alone. As brothers and sisters in Christ, never stop encouraging someone. That is the best thing we can do to help us grow together in the knowledge of the Lord. The peace we are all looking for is in Christ Jesus alone.

It pushes you beyond your limit. Okay, before I became a worship leader, there’s a lot of encouragements I had to receive to obey. I doubt myself, I was shy, I’m still shy now, but knowing about God’s grace that is sufficient in our every needs, through the push of God’s servants, I am still a worship leader. I thought I couldn’t make it and having thoughts like I am not really called by God to do this, I can only sing but not to lead. But because someone encouraged me to use my gifts and talents for the Lord, I tried and it was not a bad decision. I realized that this is what I am called for. This task that I thought I could not able to do, I am still doing it by the grace of the Lord.

It gives hope

Encouragement doesn’t only give you the good feeling, pushes you to your limit and beyond but it also gives you hope. If you think that there is no other way but to just simply finish your life, you are so wrong. I encourage you to speak over your life and to others. It is true when you are still alive, there is still hope. You will find hope in God.

Why is it important to encourage someone? There are people today who are giving up with their life. A simple word or action to show them that there is hope will give someone the courage and trust to keep going and have an expectations of greater things.

I admit, sometimes I enjoy the negative thoughts in a way by dwelling on them the whole time. But it is the work of the enemy to destroy us. It is not from the Lord. There is hope in those who believe in God.

Psalm 146:11

..the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

It motivates and disciplines

I really wanted to learn how to play piano. I am not good at playing but I can play to accompany my singing, the basics. I was told to keep practicing until you really say you can play it. Motivation and determination are some of the factors to make things happen. You are also responsible to encourage your own self. Just like playing an instrument if you are not gonna take a step to learn, how are you gonna able to do it?

“What do you want to do with your life?”

“I want to be a writer”

“Oh, Nice. Do you write?”

“No, because I don’t know how to”

“You want to be a writer? Then write”

There are so many ways to learn. You just have to begin. I think everyone starts from the bottom, so you better start to do what you love to do. I write not to be praised. I write because I love to write, whether I am good or not, it doesn’t matter. I finally figure that out. Beginners will always have doubt and for us to be on that higher level, we need motivation, determination, and discipline. Easier said than done, huh? I know, right. But this is also a note to me. I am not saying that I am perfectly confident in my life. Of course not, if you only know how I struggle with self-confidence. But through God’s grace, I will be able to do this, right? 🙂 Encourage me now.. HAHA

When someone is encouraging you it motivates you, right? So if you ever feel motivated by someone, pay it forward. You know how encouragement can change a person’s life. 🙂

It nurtures patience and kindness

I was so impatient with myself. There are traits in me that I wanted to change instantly. So, the tendency, I got frustrated and depressed. I look down on myself and because of that, I won’t able to do a task perfectly. Do not be hard on yourself. God is patient to us, you should be too. God wants us to practice kindness to others, but also to ourselves. It is difficult for us to be kind if we are not kind to ourselves. So, through God’s grace, I am able to love and be kind to myself, believing that God created me for something better and can do greater things.

Everybody has different trials in life. When someone is mean, I try to look through that person, the inside, something within him/her. Maybe she/he has a hard time in some areas of her/his life. I am thankful to my friends who are so patient with me. I used to complain so much about my life but having people around you who never stop inspiring you and praying for you is awesome. I am blessed. It made me patient to others needs as well. Their encouragement goes within me because you know that they love you as you are, when you make mistakes, they are not gonna look down on you but they are understanding and take time to really understand how I feel. Life is learning. Everything happens for a purpose, whatever the purpose is, be open to know by running to God’s arms. His word to penetrate within us and cultivate a good heart.

Romans 15:4New King James Version (NKJV)

⁴For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.

Helps you grow in Christ

Last two weeks ago, we are also reminded to make this our goal to our group. We all know that we are not perfect but God want us to build each other up. When someone is down, pull him/her up. Do not judge. Love and encourage them. A simple “How are you?” and “How can I pray for you?” can really make a change in one’s life. When I am down, God sends people to do that to me, I am grateful. Knowing that God sees everything and he wants us also to look after our neighbors and family in Christ, to pray for them.

English Standard Version

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

You are not alone!

Lastly, Remember that! God is there with you, God’s servant are also willing to be there to the people in need. When you encourage someone, that person feels he/she is not alone same as you feel when you are being encouraged. You need them. They need you.

John 13:34-35New King James Version (NKJV)

³⁴A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. ³⁵By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Let us love one another. God, as our father will really be happy seeing his children loving each other. Encourage them. When you think that there is someone around you needs yous simple smile. Do it.

SMILE! Give them hug! and Pray for them! 🙂

BE ENCOURAGED! 🙂