The Lost Art Of Encouragement

As I look back on my college years, I am trying to remember a single instance where a fellow student gave me encouragement. I’m not complaining. Enough years have passed by to make me realize that if I did have any negative feelings toward someone at college, the feelings weren’t serious enough to be remembered today. I could run into anyone I knew in college and have a good time reminiscing.

Nevertheless, God is pro-encouragement. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up — 1 Thessalonians 5:11.

Encouragement doesn’t come as easy as teasing, bullying or dismissing someone who is upset as being overly-dramatic. Our sinful nature has no problem acting out those behaviors. Even now I can feel awkward when having to give encouragement. Yet, that is what God calls me to do, even as He does it for me. God is always there to tell me my sins are forgiven through Christ, everything is under control and He is with me always (Matthew 28:20). Despite the fact that I can’t remember receiving encouragement from anyone at college, I can remember numerous times needing encouragement, which is what led me to write God Is Your Roommate in the first place.

Writing on the subject of encouragament reminds me of a quote from Luther that I once wrote down:

Since God is smarter than I am, I trust that when He allows evil or suffering in my life, it will work out for my good (Romans 8:28). Since God is loving, I trust that everything really will work out for the best in my life. And since God is all-powerful, I can ask Him to get rid of the evil, and trust that if that’s what He wants, at that time, He can and He will (Matthew 7:7).