Are You an Encourager?

Encouragers are the most important people in the world.  Why?  Encouraging words are like sunshine on a cold winter day or raindrops on parched, thirsty soil.

As Proverbs 16:24 says, 

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."

     Everyone has his or her own bad days.  Everyone has troubles.  Sometimes we wonder if we can meet our goals.

     And then sometimes we meet discouragers--people who tell us we'll never get it right, that we're wasting our time, and that we will never succeed. 

 Every great invention has been criticized, every great discovery disparaged.  Benoit Mandelbrot's fascinating work in fractals was, at first, dismissed by his colleagues as insignificant (watch Nova video about it here).  The Wright brothers were publicly scorned by the European newspapers.  No great work ever was done without the pioneer facing derision and discouragement.

God, however, is an encourager.  The Lord says in Isaiah 51:12

"I, even I, am He that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of man..."

and Isaiah 41:13

"I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

     The Lord has promised us He will always be with us.  I know from experience that He is there even when there is nothing else but sadness and confusion.  His Holy Presence and peace is there to encourage us and give us peace and hope.  He reminds us to keep fighting the good fight--to never give up!  Better things are awaiting us if we trust in Him.

     The Lord Jesus wants us to be like Him--to be imitators of Christ.  Hebrews 12:12 instructs us to "lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."

     The amount of good one word of encouragement can do is unfathomable.  I have been blessed to know some chronic encouragers, and their words of encouragement have never left me.   I would like to thank them for being who they are--for being encouragers.  Their small work makes a big difference.

As for the rest of us, let's reconsider ourselves.  What team are we on?  Do we belong to the Encouragement Team?  If not, we better join.  It's time to spread the sweetness of pleasant words.