Are you a Discourager or an Encourager
Yesterday brought things home for me as far as having people in your life to encourage us. I sat with a friend as he went for his first chemo treatment. I could understand that it can be scary, no matter who you are. I tried to uplift his spirits and encourage him.
We are easily finding those people who want to discourage us. They may beat us down, make us feel that we are useless, or some may threaten our lives. These people are to be ignored. There are enough naysayers around. Why waste our time on the negative? If I want negative, I will turn on the television and watch the news. We need to have the proper balance in our lives. People who yell at us should be put where they can best serve society by keeping them away from people.
We need encouragers in our lives, those who speak possibilities into us, lift us up, speak hope into our lives. When there are people who put drugs into their bodies or alcohol as a coping mechanism, we need to speak hope and possibilities into their lives. People have probably been speaking negative into their lives the entire time. Maybe we can see what they are good for or talented.
When we are learning new skills, we would like encouragers. They would take the time and show us again and again how to do it the right way. They may celebrate the improvements that we are making, no matter how small. They may take extra time to coach us on the side so that nobody else would know that we might have been struggling.
I know that there are certain leaders who have encouraged the people in their teams, where the individuals would rally around the positive and the encouragers. Those people would have their people willingly follow them into very dangerous situations because they knew that they trained where there was no way that they would fail a mission and would not want to let the encourager be let down.
As a good leader, friend or person, we should work to encourage people. There is an old question that asks if people are better off when you leave versus when they came to you. You can speak value into someone’s life.
You can develop the attitude of encouraging each person that comes into your life. It does not take long or much effort, unless you encounter one of those discouragers who is trying to make you feel like garbage instead of them seeing the brighter side in life. For these people, if they are so head strong on being one of those people sucking on lemons their entire life, then don't waste your time.
In the Bible, in Hebrews 10:24 it states, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds".
Through the proper encouragement, we can develop the next generation. We can train the generation, maybe we can encourage them to encounter other people in person and encourage them to learn the proper coping skills. We should also be the encourager for others to develop the skills that they need for life.
We can encourage people to help them get away from using substances like alcohol and/or different drugs that are harmful to them.
When was the last time that you spent time and talk with people about what their passion is in life and direct them and encourage them to explore their dreams or talents.
You may not realize how valuable your conversations are. I have had two people, different times in my life, tell me how valuable my conversation with them was. They both said that the conversation changed their lives. All I did was talk with them and speak into them the possibilities that can happen in their life or what God may have in store for their lives. Apparently, from those two conversations, there are two less people that were about to be suicide statistics. Have you ever felt so down that you did not think that you could lift yourself and then someone comes and may point out some of your good qualities.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 states "therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
For me, as I was sitting with a friend that was receiving his first chemo therapy it was brought to me, " Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. It is through the encouragement that we receive that we can encourage each other. As we watch some teams, for many fields, someone in the group can lift up their team, so that when the team needs encouragement, they can support each other.
Most encouragement does not take much. You can send a text, make a phone call or something else that is simple with your own personality to speak into others. One of the things that I did to uplift someone was I took something that said, and I made a personalized painting for that person. Maybe you have another talent that would make someone encouraged. Maybe making a meal or helping do repairs on a car or house or helping with children. Romans 15:5 "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had"
Proverbs 12:25 "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up." What a way to help someone! Cheer someone up. Talk with someone who looks like they are carrying a load and weighed down by their situation. Maybe you can assist the person with their challenge or maybe you can just listen. Many times, people may just want to get something off their chest with no response or no advice. There are times where people may need to rant and rave and need to vent but it would probably mean a lot to the individual, if you can find a way to encourage them later.
Who can you encourage? You are a special and unique individual and only you can encourage people the way that you do, positive and uplifting.
If you want, I am sure that you can find information from credible source as to how to listen and how to encourage. Remember that when you come across the information to make sure that you just don't trust the first thing that you see, research with reliable sources.
Stay safe,
Didymus McHugh
didymus-mchugh.com
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