We are designed and created to be vessels ready to receive the strength others can give to us. Everyone you know has very hard work to do. Perhaps it’s related to their vocation or their family or a season of suffering. Regardless, no one really has an easy life. And God has designated you to be a source of strength for many of those people.

Everyone wants to be encouraging. No one wants to be discouraging. Which isn’t to say that all of us are very good at it. The place to start (or restart) seems to be discerning how the Bible speaks of encouragement. In my studies of Scripture, I see four main, overlapping ideas about what encouragement is. Simply getting these clear in our minds will help us down the path to giving genuine encouragement those around us.

But charge Joshua, and encourage and strenghen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people… – Deuteronomy 3:28

Encouragement is the giving of strength, often for a difficult task. Regardless of what our hearts or Hollywood tell us, no one inherently has the strength needed to do what God calls us to do. We are neither designed nor created to be self-sufficient in the most important tasks of life. Rather, we are designed and created to be vessels ready to receive the strength others can give to us. Everyone you know has very hard work to do. Perhaps it’s related to their vocation or their family or a season of suffering. Regardless, no one really has an easy life. And God has designated you to be a source of strength for many of those people.

Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servants, though I am not one of your servants.” – Ruth 2:13

[Editor’s note: This article is incomplete. The link (URL) to the original article at Gentle Reformation is unavailable and has been removed.]