Be an Encourager and share hope

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 

~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11 

You might remember (or not!) the old Dr. Pepper commercial: "I'm a Pepper, she's a Pepper, he's a Pepper, we're a Pepper, wouldn't you like to be a Pepper too?" (HA! Now that song will be in your head all day long!)  

I would like to change the words: "I'm an encourager, she's an encourager, he's an encourager, we're encouragers, wouldn't you like to be an encourager too?" 

Encourager many not be a real word, and it may not fit the old tune as well, but it does remind us we should ALL be encouraging each other every day, instead of arguing and trying to get our own way and claiming we are right all the time. We all need encouragement from time to time. I know I do. I am lucky to have very loving and caring friends and family who do encourage me every day. Do you ever think about how many people in this world don't have ANYONE in their lives to encourage them? No wonder there are so many sad, angry and discouraged people in the world!

Being an encourager comes easily to me, but sometimes my own issues makes lifting other people up much harder. I look for inspiration on how to encourage others in many places, including the Bible.

In Timothy 1:3-13, Paul, who is in prison with little hope of being released, writes a letter to his friend Timothy. It is a letter of hope and encouragement. Paul does a few things in this letter that we can use as examples of how to encourage others. (The person being encouraged is the encouragee, which is another word I just made up, but it fits the bill.)

1. Give God the glory and give a compliment
First, Paul thanks God for his own life (even though he is in prison!) and then compliments Timothy on his work. It's a good place to start. Put God first. Then, the compliments. What person doesn't like a good compliment? Make the encouragee feel confident about their skills. This will help them realize they have the strength to walk through this situation. 

2. Boost their confidence
Paul then goes on to give Timothy instructions - to go fan the flame of God's word by telling others about God's plan through Jesus Christ. This is a big job, and an important one. Paul reminds Timothy of the gifts that God has given him: a spirit of power, love, and self control. In order to get through the hard stuff, the enouragee needs to know they are not alone and they have what it takes to do the work. Fortify their courage.

3. Let them know you understand it's hard  
Paul then tells Timothy he should join in "suffering for the gospel." I believe Paul knew Timothy would face jeers, disbelief, anger, prejudice and probably danger by telling the good news of the gospel. Paul knew some people would not understand the message of blessings that Jesus had to offer. Misunderstanding can lead to anger, prejudice, hatred and other dangerous acts, as we see today. Paul had already experienced this. He was preparing Timothy. A little empathy can go a long way to producing hope.

That is why Paul's message to Timothy holds so much meaning and promise for us today. There is so much going on right now in our world that is DISCOURAGING. People are angry, divided, frustrated, stressed, and scared. People are suffering. It is easy for us to feel sad, depressed, and overwhelmed in our own situations. Encouragement from a friend reminds us we are not alone, and when that friend walks with us in these hard times, we can hold on to the strength, courage, and hope they are showing us and get THROUGH the suffering. 

So, sometimes we are the encouragee and other times we are the encourager. There are benefits from both, reducing a little bit of suffering in the world.

Who can YOU encourage today? It's not that hard. Give a smile. Talk to a stranger. Talk with a friend who is struggling. Send an encouraging text. Not only will you be lifting them up, you will be lifting your mood as well. Wouldn't YOU like to be an encourager too?