I’m thankful to be part of a church where the “encouragement tank” is always full. This might not be the case for everyone, and perhaps it’s not for you either.
Yet, encouragement is vital. We are told, urged, and even commanded to encourage one another, especially given the challenging times in which we live.
You’ve experienced encouragement, so you know what it’s like. It has a way of sneaking up on us, taking us by surprise, and catching us off guard. We’re carrying on with life, feeling a little worn, a little weary, and then out of nowhere—boom! There it is. Just a word, a gesture, a gift, or a moment. Suddenly, it’s like a window has opened, and fresh, oxygen-rich air is pouring in. Encouragement does that. It surprises us, catches us off guard, and leaves us standing there, breathing deeper, remembering something we’d almost forgotten: You’re not alone. Joy returns, accompanied by its sisters: vision and boldness.
Elijah, one of the most impressive prophetic characters in the Bible, knew that very feeling. He had just experienced a fantastic ministry moment, complete with the fire of God coming out of nowhere and consuming the sacrifice on the water-drenched altar. And now… he’s sitting under a broom tree, done with it all, convinced he’s the last one standing, that his story is over. Then, out of the same nowhere from which the fire of God fell, an angel shows up—not with a grand plan or a fiery speech, but simply with bread and water. Bread and water. It’s so simple, so ordinary, and yet it’s everything Elijah needs to get back on his feet and keep moving. The encouragement didn’t come from where he expected, but it came all the same. Elijah gets up, chin high, and moves forward to find someone ploughing a field with twelve oxen—and you know how that story pans out…
It might seem like a small thing, but isn’t that how it works? Sometimes encouragement comes in a text you didn’t see coming, a line in a song, a small but unexpected gift, or a friend who speaks life into you at just the right moment. An unexpected Amazon delivery can have the same effect! What’s amazing is how it all traces back to the same source: the God who knows what you need before you even ask, stirring the hearts of those around you in ways that He inspires. He is the God who never forgets you.
This is why the Scriptures call us to outdo one another in encouragement, to keep reminding each other of the truth we so easily lose sight of: You are loved. You are seen. You belong.
And what better place for that to happen than in the church?
In the life of the church, encouragement is how we honour one another, how we celebrate the lavish gifts God has placed in His people for His people. It’s pulling someone aside and saying, I see what you’re doing, and it matters—don’t give up; keep going. It’s thanking the preacher who hasn’t been in the pulpit for a while and saying, Your words reminded me of God’s faithfulness—more opportunities are surely coming; you’ve not been forgotten. It’s noticing the one who steps out in the gifts of the Spirit and telling them, Your obedience blessed me. You did brilliantly! Keep going. It’s seeking out the quiet ones who’ve been silent for a season and letting them know, I’ve missed hearing your voice—it’s time again.
Encouragement is how we keep the fire alive, how we fan into flame the gifts God has placed in one another, and how we help people find their confidence again when they’ve forgotten to trust in God’s power working through them.
Something else we need to consider is that encouragement isn’t just about us making each other feel better, about cheerleading or pep talks—true and authentic encouragement always points back to the work and outcome of the Cross.
Think about it—the Cross is the ultimate act of encouragement. Jesus, in His death and resurrection, says to us: You’re of eternal value to me. You’re loved beyond measure. You’re never alone. Every time we encourage someone, we’re ultimately, if they dig deep enough in their thinking, reminding them of this truth. We’re echoing the gospel. We’re saying, Your story isn’t over, because He’s alive—don’t give up.
And we don’t, as ever, do this alone. The Spirit is the one who empowers us, the one who leads us to the right words at the right moment. Have you ever had that experience where you said something to someone, and later they tell you it was exactly what they needed to hear? In common grace, that’s the Spirit at work.
When we let the Spirit guide us, our words carry more than just meaning—they carry life. They cut through the noise, breathe hope into places where hope felt far away. This is how the church stays strong. Encouragement is what builds us up, brick by brick, as we keep pointing one another to Jesus. We reach out intentionally to discouraged stragglers, trying in hopelessness and despair to find a renewed sense of purpose. It’s how we remind each other that we’re not just part of a Sunday gathering—we’re part of something eternal, something that will last forever—and it’s so good we want everyone to join us.
Our encouragement isn’t just for today but for eternity. It’s lifting someone’s eyes from their struggle and pointing them to the much bigger picture: the tomb is empty, the King is alive, and no matter what today looks like, the best is still to come.
So, what does this look like for you personally? It looks like being the kind of person who surprises others with encouragement. It looks like showing up, paying attention, and speaking life when it’s needed most—even when it is inconvenient. It looks like recognising the gift someone carries and calling it out, saying, I see you, and I see what God is doing in you—and I am praying for you to excel in what you do (and then actually praying often for that to happen, even if it means their gift or ability will exceed your own).
Encouragement really doesn’t have to be complicated—it just has to be real. Often, it’s in those small, unexpected moments that the Spirit moves most powerfully.
My encouragement to you is this: let’s be people who out-encourage one another, the kind of church where honour flows freely, where grace abounds, and where every person knows they’re seen and valued. Never forget this: the Cross is the ultimate act of encouragement. It’s God’s way of saying to each of us, You are mine. You are loved. You are accepted.
Today, while it is called today, be the voice of hope. Be the bread and water for someone who feels like they can’t go on. You never know—your words might be the exact gift they didn’t even realise they needed.
And in giving it, you just might find your own heart greatly encouraged too. In all your encouragement, God notices, and as much as you did it to them…
