She wasn’t exaggerating when she told us there were 120 slippery marble steps to climb the hill to the Acropolis. August in Athens brings blazing sunshine and a stifling 34°C heat. It was on this sweltering day that we stepped off the bus to explore these ancient Greek ruins.
After gathering the group and sharing some insights about the site and the climb ahead, our tour guide led the way. A few of us stumbled at times, and we paused briefly—first at the ticket counter, then again to take in the remnants of an ancient theatre. As the path narrowed, the crowd thickened until we were shoulder to shoulder.
Just as I caught a glimpse of the gate ahead, I heard our guide through my headset. Her voice carried a sense of urgency as she called out to an elderly woman in our group: “No! Please don’t turn back now—it’s just a few more steps, and we’ll be there!”
The nurse in me hesitated. In this heat, I couldn’t be sure if the woman was really okay to continue. I couldn’t see her through the dense crowd. Was she pale? Dizzy? In pain? But with no way to check on her, I followed the crowd, praying she would be alright as we made our way through the marble columns at the entrance.
At the top, our guide gathered us in a shady spot where a gentle breeze offered some relief. A few moments later, the woman arrived, supported by her husband. She was sweaty and a little breathless but smiling. "Wow, that was quite the climb!" I said. "You did great! How are you feeling?" She looked up at me, beaming, and replied in a thick English accent, "I’m quite well, thank you."
How many times, when we face life's heat, do we want to give up or grumble when we can’t find shade?
In seasons of suffering, it’s easy to succumb to discouragement and despair. Maybe we’ve been battling a sinful habit, wondering how we can still struggle after being a Christian for so long. We might even feel like giving up.Perhaps we’ve been walking in obedience, but the results aren’t what we expected. Like Jonah, we find ourselves sitting in the shade one moment and bitterly complaining when that shade is taken away.
But in those moments of weariness and struggle, how much do we need someone to call out: “Don’t give up! Keep going!”
It reminds me of John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, which portrays the Christian life as a journey. Along the way, Christian meets many people—some helpful, some not. But it’s Faithful and Hopeful, in particular, who encourage him, help him stay on the path, and lift him up when he stumbles.
What would it look like to be that kind of person for someone else? We often think encouragement is reserved for those with a special gift for it, but Scripture calls all believers to speak words of affirmation to one another. I know I’m not always as attentive to this as I should be, so how can we grow in this area?
It Requires Seeing others
In the hustle and bustle of a Sunday morning—grabbing coffee, ushering the kids to Sunday School, and returning library books—there are countless opportunities to greet others. Some faces are familiar, while others are new. These moments may range from quick hellos to deeper conversations.
But growing an attentiveness to another person’s experience is hard when our minds are already swirling with tasks. It takes intentionality to be watchful, to notice where someone might need encouragement.
Recently, I read a book about midlife, and what struck me was the feeling of invisibility that often comes with this season, especially within the church. We’re no longer part of the baby announcements, the college and career days have passed, and the free time we once had to volunteer in every program is now filled with our kids' activities.
Yet, just as the apostle Paul stayed connected to the churches he planted, he responded to their needs by sending letters of encouragement. He saw their conflicts, understood their struggles, and pointed them to Christ. He was invested in their spiritual progress.
This raises an important question: How invested are we in the lives of our church community? Do we care about the spiritual growth and faithfulness of our brothers and sisters in Christ?
This, ultimately, is a heart issue. Our posture toward our church family should not be one of indifference, though it can easily slip that way. Instead, it should be marked by love. We are part of a unified body in Christ, integrally connected to one another (Romans 12:5).
Love fosters a deep care for others, where we "stir up one another to love and good works, not 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" (Hebrews 10:24-25).
We all know what it’s like to need encouragement. Those moments of weariness, struggle, and disappointment are etched in our memory. And we also hold dear the people who spoke words of life and hope to us in those times.
Take Barnabas, for example. He looked beyond Paul’s past reputation and saw the evidence of God’s work in his life and calling. He also saw potential in John Mark, even after his failure.
Being an encourager means seeing others as God sees them—not defined by their past or present struggles, but as fellow travelers in need of grace, guidance, and the reminder that they’re not walking alone.
It Requires Courage to Speak
What keeps us from stepping out and offering the encouragement we know others need?
Maybe we’ve seen someone growing in their faith or facing a tough challenge, yet we hesitate to say a word. We might even whisper a prayer for them but stop short of reaching out.
We may not be the apostle Paul, writing letters to churches we’ve planted, but we are God’s people—and we need each other. As Tony Merida says, "Our faith is personal, but not private," though our culture often teaches otherwise.
Once we notice someone in need of encouragement, we might wonder what to say. We can start by letting them know we’re praying for them, honestly and specifically. We can affirm their character, their faithfulness, and remind them to keep persevering, trusting that God's promise to be with them never fails.
In the face of adversity, we’re strengthened by those around us. The front lines of battle were never meant to be fought by just one person. Standing side by side fuels courage. Though the church in the West may have lost some of that familial connection, the church in other parts of the world understands it deeply. In many places, naming Christ as Savior means being rejected by family and community. These believers face the uncertainty of how they will survive—but where the church exists, so does support, and the burden is shared. When they have no one else, they have their family in Christ.
This is not trivial or optional; it’s essential.
Galatians 6 reminds us to bear each others burdens and persevere in doing good for others. Consider Mordecai’s words to Esther, which gave her the strength to follow God’s will. Or the words of the prophets encouraging Israel to remember the great works of God and return to him. Barnabas’ encouragement of John Mark helped him recover from failure and ultimately write the first gospel account of Jesus’ life.
The words we speak can be a lifeline, offering hope and strength to those around us; so let us choose to cultivate a spirit of courage, stepping out to share the encouragement that can uplift and transform lives within our community.
It Requires Humility
In Practicing Affirmation, Sam Crabtree reminds us, "Generally, our failure to affirm others is not rooted in them, but in us." This makes me wonder if our hesitation to encourage others stems from a hardness of heart or unresolved wounds from our past. As Scripture says, “For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34)—or, sometimes remains silent.
When we take the time to affirm and encourage others, we glorify God by acknowledging the work He is doing in their lives. Crabtree notes, "God is glorified in us when we affirm the work He has done and is doing in others." This is a powerful reminder that our words have the potential to uplift and inspire, reflecting God's grace and purpose.
Humility plays a crucial role in this process. It requires us to set aside our own insecurities and recognize the value of those around us. We may not always have the answers or be able to fix someone’s struggles, but we can offer our support and encouragement. By trusting in God’s work in the lives of others, we contribute to a culture of affirmation and love within our community.
Let us strive to be vessels of encouragement, speaking life into those around us and celebrating their journeys, knowing that, as we do, we are participating in God’s transformative work.
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