Give Encouragement

Give Encouragement

Encouragement goes both ways, of course. We need people to give us a boost, to affirm and compliment us, to pray for us, and to urge us on. We also need good examples to emulate. And we need this at every point along the race and in life, but especially during those bumps, setbacks, and challenges. At the same time, we should be looking for people we can encourage.

In running, being an encourager can start when someone begins to consider becoming a “runner.” Many runners say they entered the sport at the urging of a friend and that the two friends held each other accountable for keeping to a regular running schedule. And many runners have running partners, friends who meet at the park to run a trail or at the fitness center to run around the track or neighbors who meet up and run through the neighborhood. The runs become social events.

We’ve already discussed the importance of encouragement in long-distance races, especially in the later stages during physical and emotional stress. We may find that running with a loved one or friend is difficult in a race because of the differences in pace and physical needs and the press of the pack. But we still can find runners, even strangers, to come alongside and encourage us on the way.

God has a lot to say about how his people should relate to others. He expects us to care for the needy (Matthew 25:34-40), treat others as we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12), love our “neighbors” (Matthew 22:39), and serve (John 13:34-35). In addition, our acts of loving service and words of encouragement should touch all kinds of people—children, spouses, neighbors, believers, unbelievers, widows, aliens, and even enemies (can you say “competitors”?). And we should point them to the ultimate Encourager, “the source of all comfort.” This passage pretty much says it all:

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. Even when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your comfort and salvation! For when we ourselves are comforted, we will certainly comfort you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. (2 Corinthians 1:3-7)

The Runner

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. (Acts 11:22-24)

Every group needs an “encourager,” because everyone needs encouragement at one time or another. The value of encouragement is often missed, however, because it tends to be private rather than public. In fact, people most need encouragement when they feel most alone. A man named Joseph was such an encourager that he earned the nickname “Son of Encouragement,” or Barnabas, from the Jerusalem Christians (Acts 4:36).

Barnabas was drawn to people he could encourage, and he was a great help to everyone around him. Barnabas’s actions were crucial to the early church. In a way, we can thank him for most of the New Testament. God used his relationship with Paul at one point and with Mark at another to keep these two men going when either might have failed. Barnabas did wonders with encouragement!

When Paul arrived in Jerusalem for the first time following his conversion, the local Christians were understandably reluctant to welcome him. They thought his story was a trick to capture more Christians. Only Barnabas proved willing to risk his life to meet with Paul and then convince the others that their former enemy was now a vibrant believer in Jesus. We can only wonder what might have happened to Paul without Barnabas.

Barnabas encouraged Mark to go with him and Paul to Antioch. Mark joined them on their first missionary journey but decided during the trip to return home. Later, Barnabas wanted to invite Mark to join them for another journey, but Paul would not agree. As a result, the partners went separate ways, Barnabas with Mark and Paul with Silas. This actually doubled the missionary effort. Barnabas’s patient encouragement was confirmed by Mark’s eventual effective ministry. Paul and Mark were later reunited in missionary efforts.

Barnabas’s story is told in Acts 4:36-37; 9:27–15:39. He is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians 9:6; Galatians 2:1, 9, 13; and Colossians 4:10.

The Race

We can be like Barnabas. And we can encourage people by simply affirming them for a character trait (discipline, loyalty, integrity, honor, and so forth), for making progress in a specific area, or for a job well done (similar to race spectators shouting out, “Looking good!”). We can encourage by coming alongside and running with them, listening, comforting, and meeting a need. And we can encourage by reminding them of God’s promises—what Paul did for the Thessalonian believers:

We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18)

This message of hope should encourage us no matter what we are going through.

The Result

Stop and think about people you can encourage—with a comment, a note, a call, a pat on the back, a reminder of the hope and joy found in Christ. This loving act begins with sensitivity, seeing people as individuals who need a word from God through you. That’s everyone, certainly, even those who look so self-assured, successful, and carefree—we all harbor secret fears, misgivings, and hurts, and we all need comfort and encouragement.

Be a Barnabas.

My Story

The crowd is silent. The runners are lined up, waiting. Bang! The gun goes off, and another race starts. As a part of the high school cross-country team for the last three years, I have grown used to this.

I start to pick up speed, digging my spikes in the grass and lifting up with every step. By the half-mile mark, I am breathing hard, wondering why I choose to put myself through this year after year.

As I pass a runner from another team, I breathe out a quick “good job,” which she returns.

At that moment, a bond is made. An acknowledgment that we are both struggling and working toward the same goal: finishing. Even though we are from different teams and are racing against one another, we share something in common. There in that field, all of a sudden, every runner becomes a fellow teammate, all working themselves to their limits, all in need of support and encouragement.

The same can be said of our walk with God. It is not an easy race to run, and it is by no means short. But there are other runners, all striving to finish the race well, with whom we can find a common ground in recognizing God’s love for us. The Christian journey can be grueling, but it does not have to be embarked on alone. We can count on others to support us when we feel like we can’t take another step, and we can also carry their burdens when they need it. It is only with the help that God provides through our fellow brothers and sisters that we can “run with endurance the race God has set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Boyi

Think It Through

1. In running, who have you encouraged through your words or your example? How have you encouraged another runner in a race?

2. Who is the most positive, encouraging person you know? What’s his or her secret?

3. Reflecting on your relatives, friends, people at church, coworkers, and neighbors, who do you think definitely needs comfort or encouragement?

4. Today, what will you do to comfort or encourage at least two of those people?

On Running

How often should I eat?

Whether dieting or not, do not skip meals. Your performance will drop in as little as six hours without eating. Grazing is a good option, especially for endurance athletes, but make sure you are grazing on good foods and aren’t eating a lot of excess calories. Also, avoiding a coffee-and-donut breakfast and opting for something more nutritional will help you to manage your eating. A sugar-laden, empty-calorie breakfast can be hypoglycemic, decreasing your blood sugar levels and leaving you wanting more to eat.