Life is exhausting. Honestly, most of us are just one bad email or one broken appliance away from a total meltdown. We talk a lot about "self-care" and "boundaries," which are fine, but there is something fundamentally different about the weight of a well-timed word from someone else. It changes the chemistry of the room. When we look at scriptures on encouraging others, we aren't just looking at ancient platitudes or "live, laugh, love" posters from two thousand years ago. We are looking at a survival strategy.
Words have mass. They can pin you down or pick you up.
Most people think of encouragement as a soft skill, something you do if you have extra time or a naturally bubbly personality. But the Bible treats it like a command, almost like a civic duty for the soul. In the New Testament, the Greek word often used for encouragement is parakaleō. It’s a gritty word. It means to call to one's side, to summon, or to strengthen. It’s the same root used for the Holy Spirit. So, when you’re looking for scriptures on encouraging others, you’re actually looking for a way to stand in the gap for someone who is currently losing their grip.
The Psychological Weight of 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." This is probably the most cited verse when people search for scriptures on encouraging others. But look at the context. Paul was writing to a group of people in Thessalonica who were genuinely terrified. They thought they had missed the boat on the afterlife, and they were facing localized persecution. They weren't just "having a bad day." They were in a crisis of identity and safety.
Paul doesn't tell them to just "be positive." He tells them to build.
The word "build" here is oikodomeō, which is construction language. It’s the same word you’d use for laying bricks. This implies that encouragement isn't just a feeling; it’s structural. You are adding a layer of protection to someone else’s mental and spiritual house. If you stop building, the structure starts to decay. It’s that simple.
I’ve seen this happen in real-time. A friend of mine was going through a brutal divorce. People kept giving her "thoughts and prayers," which is fine, but one person actually sat her down and read Hebrews 10:24-25 to her. "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another." That word "spur" or "provoke" is paroxysmos. It sounds like "paroxysm," like a sudden attack or outburst. True encouragement isn't always a gentle pat on the back. Sometimes it’s a sharp poke to keep going when you want to curl up in a ball.
Why We Get Hebrews 3:13 Wrong
People love to quote the first half of Hebrews 3:13: "But encourage one another daily." They stop there. They make it a New Year's resolution to send more "Thinking of you" texts. But the second half of that verse is the kicker: "...as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."
This is fascinating.
The writer of Hebrews is suggesting that a lack of encouragement actually makes your heart grow hard. It’s like a lack of hydration for a plant. Without the constant input of external validation and communal support, the human heart becomes brittle. We start to believe the lies we tell ourselves. "I'm not good enough." "Nobody cares." "It's never going to get better."
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Biblical encouragement acts as an emollient. It keeps the heart soft and receptive. If you aren't actively engaging with scriptures on encouraging others, you’re essentially letting your spiritual skin get calloused. And calloused skin can't feel anything.
The Power of Presence in Job’s Story
We usually talk about Job in the context of suffering, but his friends are a masterclass in how not to encourage—and then, briefly, how to do it right. When they first arrived, they sat in silence for seven days. That was their best work.
The moment they started talking, they blew it.
They tried to "fix" Job’s theology. They tried to find the "why" behind his pain. Pro-tip: If someone is grieving, they don't need a lecture on the sovereignty of God; they need the presence of a friend. Proverb 12:25 says, "Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up." Note that it doesn't say "a correct theological argument cheers it up."
It’s just a kind word.
Sometimes the most encouraging thing you can do is acknowledge the reality of the mess. Romans 12:15 tells us to "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." It doesn’t say "Mourn with those who mourn, but then remind them it could be worse." That’s not encouragement. That’s gaslighting. Real encouragement meets people exactly where their feet are currently planted, even if they’re standing in mud.
Barnabas: The "Son of Encouragement"
If you want a real-world example of what this looks like, you have to look at Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles literally nicknamed him Barnabas, which means "Son of Encouragement." Imagine being so good at lifting people up that your friends stop calling you by your legal name and start calling you "The Encourager."
Barnabas is the reason we have the Apostle Paul.
When Paul (then Saul) first tried to join the disciples in Jerusalem, everyone was terrified of him. They thought it was a trap. Honestly, who could blame them? He had been orchestrating the execution of Christians. But Acts 9:27 says Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He put his own reputation on the line to vouch for a "cancel-worthy" outsider.
That is the high-stakes version of scriptures on encouraging others. It’s not just saying nice things; it’s putting your own social capital on the line for someone else. Barnabas did it again later with John Mark, who had deserted a mission trip. Paul wanted to ditch the kid, but Barnabas insisted on a second chance.
Encouragement is often synonymous with "second chances."
Practical Ways to Actually Do This
Most of us want to be more encouraging, but we get stuck in our own heads. We think it has to be profound. It doesn't. Here are some ways to move from reading scriptures on encouraging others to actually living them out.
Stop the "Let me know if you need anything" habit.
Nobody ever lets you know. It’s a social dead end. Instead, use the "Barnabas method" of active intervention. Instead of asking, just do. Send a $10 Starbucks gift card with a text that says, "Thinking of you, no need to reply." That last part is key. It removes the burden of social obligation from the person who is already overwhelmed.
Be specific with your praise.
Vague encouragement feels like a form letter. If you tell someone, "You’re doing a great job," they might believe you. If you say, "I saw how patient you were with that difficult client today, and it really inspired me," they will definitely believe you. Ephesians 4:29 says to only let talk come out of your mouths that is "helpful for building others up according to their needs." Note the specificity: according to their needs.
Use the "Daily" Rule from Hebrews.
Since Hebrews 3:13 says to do it daily, make it a habit. Set a recurring alarm on your phone for 10:00 AM. When it goes off, spend 60 seconds texting one person a genuine compliment or a verse of scripture. It takes less time than scrolling Instagram and has a significantly higher ROI for the kingdom of God.
Acknowledge the struggle, don't bypass it.
If you're using scriptures on encouraging others to shut someone up because their sadness makes you uncomfortable, you're doing it wrong. Use verses like Psalm 34:18 ("The Lord is close to the brokenhearted") rather than "Everything happens for a reason." One validates the pain; the other dismisses it.
The Ripple Effect of a Single Word
We underestimate the shelf life of a kind word. You might forget a compliment you gave someone five minutes after you said it, but that person might hold onto it for five years. I still remember a note a teacher wrote on the back of a paper I turned in back in 2004. It wasn't long. It just said, "You have a way of seeing things others miss. Don't stop looking."
That’s it.
That teacher probably doesn't even remember my name, but that "building up" has stayed in my structure for decades. When we engage with scriptures on encouraging others, we are participating in something eternal. We are fighting back against the hardening of the world.
The world is naturally critical, cynical, and loud. Choosing to be encouraging is an act of rebellion. It’s a refusal to let the darkness have the last word.
Actionable Steps for Today
Take these steps to move from theory to practice:
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- Identify one person in your life who is currently in a "transition" phase—new job, new baby, move, or loss.
- Write a physical note. Yes, on paper. Use a stamp. Mention a specific trait they have that you admire.
- Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. It explains that we are comforted so that we can comfort others. Think of one hard thing you've survived and use the "comfort" you gained there to help someone currently in that same fire.
- Memorize one "anchor" verse. My go-to is Isaiah 41:10: "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." Having this ready to go allows you to speak life into a situation without having to fumble for your phone.
- Listen more than you speak. James 1:19 is the ultimate "pre-encouragement" verse. You can't encourage a need you haven't heard.
Encouragement isn't a personality trait. It’s a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets, and the more you’ll find that as you build others up, your own structure feels a lot more solid, too.