Last week, my family had an, “and then…” moment. As in everything was going great … and then it wasn’t. Overnight, life as we knew it changed. Our loss left us stunned, sad and hurt. (If you want to read my blog post about what happened, click here.)
But in the midst of all the turmoil, we received a tremendously helpful gift from the godly people around us: encouragement.
Daily, we have been lifted out of the pit by friends who pray, send scripture verses, and remind us of God’s goodness. I can honestly say I’d be a wreck without that outpouring of love. Amidst the flood of messages and texts, I have been struck by the important role that godly encouragement plays in the community of believers. Life is unpredictable and often hard, and it’s easy to be overcome and feel defeated when hard things happen. But encouragement has the power to shine light and truth into those dark times. It makes an incredible difference.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT) says, “So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”
When you read this verse in context, Paul is not talking about compliments or flattery (even though we all benefit from an occasional, “You look amazing”). He is talking about the kind of power that stems from our faith and is rooted in God’s truth.
I believe that one of the best ways to do this kind of powerful encouraging is to speak God’s Word into hard situations. When the Word is spoken, it breaths hope, light, love, and strength into the person receiving them. The Word contains promises that help our hearts and our minds realign with the truth of God’s goodness and sovereignty over every situation. There is nothing that compares to the power of the Word.
Therefore, we can make a significant impact in our tribe by being an encourager –– a bearer of truth. When someone we know experiences a hardship, we can make a difference by speaking the Word of God over them, praying the Word over them, or reminding them of the promises that the Word contains. It’s so simple, yet so powerful.
Here are a few of my other favorite verses to claim when it feels like life is falling apart:
2 Corinthians 1:8-10
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Ephesians 3:16-21
Romans 8:28
Philippians 4:6-7
Hebrews 12:10-13
Psalm 18, 23, 91, 100
Jeremiah 29:11
Today, consider how you could be a “bearer of truth” to someone in your community today. Spend time in prayer asking God to show you what scripture verse(s) would be helpful to share. Then reach out to that person in some way and share that encouraging truth with them. I promise you, it WILL make a difference.
Aminta Geisler is married to her best friend, Ben, and is a stay-at-home-mom of two teens and two toddlers. A self-proclaimed Jesus freak, she loves making old furniture new, studying God’s word, and all things pizza. You can read more about her journey of reckless abandon for Jesus @amintageisler.com or on instagram @amintageisler.