Hello Hello! I want to share with you one of the most important things I ever learned.
When you can you should encourage someone.
Let me say it again: when you can you should encourage someone.
Well, that’s it for today. Thanks for being part of the team…
Naw I’m kidding. Well sort of. I’m not really going to say anything more than that just over and over again in different ways.
Look at it this way:
We have all had bad days. I mean really bad days. The kind of days that take a month to work through.
On those days, I know, because I’ve been there, that I could have used a good word from a friend.
You know it too.
You have probably felt alone and lost at times and wished that just someone would reach out. You didn’t have the strength to ask or you felt you might come across as embarrassed or weak if you did.
So you didn’t ask and you continued working through dark days alone.
This is where you as a leader come into someone’s life.
You can speak the words you wish you had heard on your darkest days.
How about a different circumstance?
We all feel inadequate at times. We look around at the great things being done around us and look at what we have done and realize the gap is wide.
In those moments, I know, because I’ve been there, that I could have used an encouraging word from a friend.
You know it too.
You have probably felt less than the people around you and wished that someone would just notice you.
You didn’t feel valued and you didn’t know how to give anymore to be valued.
So, you hide further into the background and keep wishing for someone to take notice.
This is where you as a leader come into someone’s life.
You can speak the words of encouragement that you wish had been spoken to you when you felt worthless.
Here’s the thing:
You don’t know what someone is going through.
A great quote that I love is this:
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
And this is the reason why I want to encourage you that when you can you should encourage someone.
So many people struggle internally with their worth, their place, and their pain. There is no easy way to recognize these things happening in people’s lives. But there is an easy way to fight against them and walk alongside people regardless of joyful days or sorrowful nights: encourage them.
Speak positive words into their life.
Point to the brightness they bring to the world.
Love them with you time.
Encourage them by any means necessary.
You don’t know what someone is going through and you probably won’t know what everyone is going through.
But you don’t have to know everything to influence the people around you and build a better community.
The bible says it this way in Ephesians 4:29:
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
And the Bible is full of calls to encouragement. Every letter that Paul writes includes thanksgiving and reflection on the good communities of faith that he loves.
Aand let’s face it these are far from perfect communities but he encourages them so that they may move forward.
So let’s encourage each other.
Here’s the challenge: Encourage someone today.
Think of someone you want to encourage.
- List one thing you really love about them.
- List one thing you think they are great at.
- List one thing you miss about them when they aren’t around
And then text, email, write a letter, make a phone call, or write a post about them and tag them in it. Do something to let them know what you think of them and encourage them.
And the real challenge: do it five more times. Find people from every corner of your life (especially in the corners you tend to forget) and encourage them.
Can you imagine the difference we can make if all of us encourage five people?
How far can that encouragement go to change the world around us?
How strong can we build our communities?
How far can God’s love go through us?
I don’t know but I do know that encouragement has changed my life and if it can change mine it can change theirs and that’s an exciting idea.
So if you can you should encourage someone today.
Thanks, friends. This is a good time to remind you that I think you are awesome. I try to be positive at the tail end of each episode cause I genuinely believe in each of you. I have seen you strive to build good community at camp and I have seen you carry the love of Jesus into the world around you. And that’s amazing. If you need anything, prayer, friendship, or encouragement please reach out to your director friends. You can reach Michelle by email at michelle@miniyowe.com.
If you can you should encourage someone today. Take the time to think of someone. Love them for who they are. Share with them that great love. And together we can brighten some dark days.
And in the meantime keep being awesome.
This post is part of our Leap of Faith Audio Check-ins. We want to encourage you to leap into your faith and continue to grow at home, at school, and in your church. These audio check-ins are meant to encourage you as live out your faith every day.
Want to keep growing?
There are more episode of Leap of Faith and other resources for you to grow in your leadership and faith here.