How to Encourage Someone
By Aaron Joseph Hall
I’m a word-of-affirmation person. I can become very discouraged easily and I have learned that I thrive when someone goes out of their way to encourage me with their words.
I’m not saying this to ask you to do that for me right now. Rather, I want to share how you can encourage someone in your life today. Right where you are in the world.
In a world full of anger, selfish-centeredness, and tension—we all could use more encouragement!
The Bible says in Proverbs 18:21: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (NLT).
Your word of encouragement today could literally mean life to someone who has been given only words that bring death, negativity, and depression.
I want to share with you three powerful ways how you can encourage someone today!
1. Tell someone you care about them
People in your life want to know that you care about them. If we want to model our lives after Jesus, then we should tell people we care!
Scripture says in 1 Peter 5:7 to “give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you” (NLT). God says in many ways that he cares. The Bible is God’s Word to us—it’s God speaking to us!
If God reminds us in His Word that he cares and we know how that encourages us—imagine what your words could do for someone today if you spoke life over them! Encouraging someone is an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.
So, who will you encourage with your words today?
2. Show someone you care about them
It’s great to tell someone you care about them to encourage them—but sometimes we need to show them too! I love it when my wife uses her words to encourage me but when she goes out of her way to SHOW me—that can speak louder than words!
Think about this: Jesus told us in his Word he cares but he also SHOWED us he cared at the cross!
He showed us he cares by becoming the final offering for our sin. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (NLT).
Jesus uses his Word to encourage and he backed his Word up with action—how can you encourage someone today with ACTION?
3. Be someone who encourages
Telling and showing are great ways to let someone know you care about them and to encourage them. Words with action can sometimes speak louder than a megaphone.
Here’s how to encourage someone—be someone who encourages! One of my pastors (who went to be with the Lord) was a man that exemplified encouragement! He was someone who was constantly encouraging others with his words and actions.
It’s one thing to tell someone here and there and to show them only on special holidays. What would happen to those you encounter if becoming someone who encourages was a daily practice for you?
Instead of choosing self, you chose others?
Instead of choosing anger, you chose joy?
Instead of being irritated you were interrupted, you chose to speak life and value over someone?
Jesus is someone who encourages daily. He put others first, he healed the blind, and the sick, and raised his friend from the dead. He also spoke the truth to people on how to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus continues to encourage us today through his word, which Hebrews 4:12, says is “alive and powerful” (NLT).
Perhaps the encouragement you need to hear today is simply: You are enough. You matter.
At the end of the day, when we encourage someone it can change their day and the direction their life is going. Words and actions have great power. Yield them responsibly.
Aaron Joseph Hall, the writer behind AaronJosephHall.com and the youth pastor at More 2 Life Ministries, resides in Okeechobee, Florida, with his wife and four children. You can connect with him on Instagram and X.
