Life has a way of throwing things our
way when we are least expecting. Difficult situations crop up; doors that were
open close and a pathway suddenly becomes a dead end. Discouragement hits us
quite often more than we expect.
Encouragement offers us courage and the hope
to move forward despite the odds. It’s what can keep us going.
Author Dan Reiland puts it this way, “Encouragement provides the emotional fuel that enables people to hold
longer, reach farther and dig deeper than previously believed possible.”
E-Encouragement
Isn't it true about us that in
everything we do from time to time, we have doubted our capabilities and lacked
self confidence? It was not until someone came alongside and boosted us up that
we actually started to believe in ourselves. It was their encouragement that
made the difference. Some of us wouldn't be where we are today if we did not
receive the encouragement that was needed at those pivotal moments.
I believe deep down every person needs
encouragement. People will go farther than they think they could when someone
else thinks they can. When we take up that mantle to be an encourager; people
will naturally migrate towards us.
Think about this: Our nature is such
that we want to be around people who believe in us. And therefore we tend to
build strong relationships with those who give us the courage and hope to move
forward.
Take Away Principle:
Encouraging
others attracts them toward us. Strong relationships can be forged when we
choose to be an encourager.
1. Choose
to be the encourager. It’s
often easy to spot weaknesses in others, but look for strengths in them first.
2. Point
out their strengths to them. People often know what they are not good at, but
always need someone to tell them what they are good at.
3. Always
offer words of hope and comfort.
