The Source of Encouragement

I love giving advice to people. It's fun (maybe even a little satisfying to the ego) to be sought after on issues of great import. That's when I get to stroke my chin, peer over the rims of my glasses, and draw a deep breath to bring forth words of great blessing for a soul in need.

Or (more honestly), I can admit that I don't know what the person is going through, how their problems can be solved, how their hurts can be comforted, or what decisions they should make.

I don't have the answers—but I know Someone who does. My job is to introduce people to Him, to remind people of Him, and to point them to His Word. If someone is looking down, I want to help them look up.

God is the source of spiritual encouragement. When counseling friends in need, I often try to link their specific need with an attribute of God that meets that need. For example,

• If someone is lonely, they need to grasp the everywhere-presence of their loving Father.
• If someone is afraid, they need to see the strength of the all-powerful Creator who watches over us.
• If someone is heading into sin, they need to see the love and sacrifice of Christ afresh, or perhaps note the magnitude of God's righteousness and judgment.
• If someone is deeply in debt and discouraged about money, they need to see God as their Provider, and perhaps consider that God is sufficient for their joy rather than things.

Every need that a human being can face is answered in the character of God!

I don't think it's enough to talk about God's character, however; we should take things a step further and show people how God has demonstrated His character in the Bible. To a person alone, see how God comforted David in the Psalms. To a young person facing big choices about the future, notice God's wisdom flowing through the Proverbs. To someone consumed with worry, read the promise of Jesus in Matthew 6:33, or see the miracles God did to save Israel during the Exodus.

Here's some good news: If we point people to God's Word for their answers, we don't have to come up with our own. There's no pressure to give someone a "solution"—we just need faith that, indeed, God is their Answer.

Here are a few benefits to this approach:

1. If you train people to look to God and the Bible for answers, they may not need your advice again. (Bad news for your ego, great news for the person in need!)
2. You can become a better encourager simply by getting to know God better and learning more of His Word.
3. You can demonstrate to people that their first and ultimate need is a relationship with God through Jesus, regardless of their situation.

Is there still a place for practical wisdom and sharing life experiences? Of course. And even for professional help? Sure. But the first answer for any discouraged heart must be God—His love, His truth, His plan. As believers who are commanded to encourage each other daily, this is where we must begin.