Need some encouragement?

         Who would say “No” to that question? I think all of us would agree we need encouragement, but do we fully understand the impact of encouragement on the human spirit? John Maxwell shared about an experiment done in the San Francisco school district many years ago. A principal called in three teachers and informed them that because they were the top tier teachers, they would be given 90 high IQ students for the year to let them study at their own pace and see how much they would learn. At the end of the year those 90 students had achieved 20 to 30 percent more than the rest of the students in the San Francisco Bay area. The principal then shared a secret with the teachers–the students weren’t high IQ but average students picked randomly. Then he shared another secret–the teachers were not selected because of the top tier teaching skills but were the first three names drawn out of a hat. (https://www.success.com/john-maxwell-encouragement-changes-everything/)

What made the difference? Encouragement. The teachers were encouraged by the words of the principal regarding their skills and the students were encouraged by the belief the teachers showed in them to accomplish more than the rest of the students. Encouragement made a difference.

Why do marathon races have fans lined up all along the course encouraging runners? It makes a difference. Runners have attested to the significance that encouragement to keep going. I have never run a full marathon, but I have run a half-marathon, several 5K’s, and completed a Triathlon. Encouragement made a difference even though most of the encouragement came from complete strangers. Some lady is standing on the side of the course shouting to me, “You’re doing great! Keep it up!” The cynic in me says, “Yeah, you’re saying that to everyone.” And, I’m right. They are. Yet after hearing those encouragements multiple times throughout the race, I can’t help but gain some emotional fuel to keep going. It feels good. I feed on that encouragement even if it’s from strangers.

A team of US researchers conducted a study to determine the effects of encouragement on performance. Four groups of people were required to run to maximum oxygen use or exhaustion on a treadmill. One group received no encouragement, another group was encouraged every 3 minutes, a third group received encouragement every minute and the final group received encouragement every 20 seconds. The results concluded that “verbal encouragement intended to increase a person’s maximal effort has profound effects on performance.”(https://www.sportsperformancebulletin.com/endurance-psychology/psychological-aides/encouragement-boosts-performance/)

            The Creator of humankind wired us this way and therefore urged us to encourage one another. We find numerous examples of encouragement throughout scripture and there are at least five specific entreaties to encourage each other in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:29; I Thessalonians 5:11, 14; Hebrews 3:13 and I’ll throw in Hebrews 10:25 as well). In Hebrews we see the added caveat that this encouragement should be daily.

            But what is encouragement? Is it chanting on the sideline with pom pom’s “We’re gonna win!” when the team is losing 72 to 6? I don’t think so. Merriam-Webster provides the following definition: to inspire with courage, spirit, or hope and to spur on. The two definitions capture the sense of Hebrews 10:24-25 particularly. There we read, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, ²⁵not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

            That’s encouragement, to inspire hope and spur someone on. And it comes in many forms. A simple thank you can encourage someone. An 82-year-old retired teacher received a thank you from John Cruitt, who was her student 54 years prior. She supported him as a third grader after his mother died. She let him know she was there for him helped him move forward through his grief.

As an adult, John realized how important her support was to him, but also realized he had never thanked her. So after 54 years, he decided to remedy that and sent her a thank you letter. John said that he decided to type the letter because he was worried his penmanship wouldn’t be up to Mrs. Doyle’s standards. The letter came at just the write time for Mrs. Doyle. She recently lost her husband was battling Parkinson’s disease. She had just come back from a hospital visit when she read John’s letter. She said she was “overwhelmed.” What an encouragement to her to know she had made such a difference in his life. (https://www.npr.org/2012/12/28/168142027/decades-later-student-finds-teacher-to-say-thank-you)
            Have you thanked a teacher? Have you thanked your parents? Have you thanked your co-workers for their effort at your work? A thank you can spur someone to continue when they may be feeling like giving up.

Encouragement can also be specific affirmations to someone about gifts they have, character qualities you admire, or God’s hand on their life. Those words can spur someone on as well. Early into William Wilberforce’s fight against the slave trade he began to wonder if his efforts had any hope of success. Questioning whether he should even continue the battle, he received a letter from John Wesley which read, “But if God be for you, who can be against you? Are all of them together stronger than God? O be not weary of well doing! Go on, in the name of God and in the power of his might, till even American slavery (the vilest that ever saw the sun) shall vanish away before it.” Six days later John Wesley died, but William Wilberforce continued his battle for over forty years until he witnessed the abolition of slavery in Britain three days before his own death.
(https://place.asburyseminary.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1009&context=engaginggovernmentpapers)

Do you think encouragement makes a difference?

I want to be an encourager. We all need encouragement, but I pray that God will help me be a person that regularly gives it. Sure, we want to receive it (I enjoy encouragement), but God exhorts us as His children to give encouragement. What a privilege we have to encourage someone and watch God use that word of encouragement to spur on someone to impact thousands. But even if my encouragement only impacts one person, it still made a difference.

I would be remiss if I didn’t encourage you as I wrap this up. I don’t know who will read this. I might not even personally know you, but I do know some truths about you. God loves you and can use you to positively impact others. Many people believe the lie of Satan that they are worthless and can’t do anything well. Maybe that’s you right now. Let me tell you that you are God’s creation, created in His image, treasured so much that Jesus died for you, and you are gifted with your own unique skills and abilities that God wants to use to positively impact others. Don’t give up. Don’t believe the lies. Stay strong and make and impact for God’s kingdom. You are loved, valued, and CAN make a difference.

Be encouraged and be an encourager!