With a bit of a scratchy throat, I unwrapped a Hall’s cough drop and started to throw away the wrapper. That’s when I discovered something I didn’t expect. Encouragement! There…printed on that little paper wrapper was a word of encouragement. A bit of a pep talk. As I looked at other ones, I found several motivational phrases on those little paper wrappers.

  • Dust off and get up.
  • Be unstoppable.
  • Turn “can do” into “can did!”.
  • Conquer today.
  • Don’t waste a precious minute.
  • Let’s hear your battle cry.
  • Don’t give up on yourself.

OK…some of those could take a person down a self-sufficient path instead of a biblical one, but that’s not the point that came to me. I got to thinking how little effort it takes to encourage someone. A word here. A pat on the back there. A smile to a fellow worker. A “thumbs up” for a job well done. And it didn’t cost a thing!

With those you lead, whether in your ministry, among your friends, or in your family, I will guarantee there is someone that needs encouragement. Someone needs a word to help them get through the day or the week. And you can be the one that provides that word to them.

In talking about the importance of this encouragement, our friend Gary Chapman (Five Love Languages) says we need to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes.

“Encouragement requires empathy …. Only then can we give encouragement. With verbal encouragement, we are trying to communicate, “I know. I care. I am with you. How can I help?”

Dr. Chapman spoke at our MEDIAlliance Summit on his book that relates the five languages of appreciation for the workplace. It is so important that each person feel appreciated. All of us desire that. One reviewer, writing about Chapman’s book, said, “If a manager or leader can properly create and maintain a happy workplace, team members will seamlessly work together, be more productive, and more engaged therefore helping the company as a whole.”

My point today is not to suggest taking yourself and those who serve with you through an appreciation training course. While that isn’t a bad idea, my purpose today is to spur you to do the little things that can make a difference in someone’s life. I think the Bible calls that a word fitly spoken. A good word at the right time.

God’s Word is filled with words of encouragement for all of us.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

Jesus brought that kind of encouragement to his disciples and followers.

“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Matthew 6:31-33 NLT

Surprise someone today with a word of encouragement. See if it doesn’t put a smile on their face and something special in their heart. You’ll be doing something biblical. Paul left these instructions for us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NLT)

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

Pardon me…I think I need another cough drop…and a little encouragement myself.

God’s best…