Encourage Someone

A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

When someone is in the midst of a difficult period in their lives the last thing they need is a negative word. Our words should be a source of encouragement; they should inspire and uplift. We must – at all times – resist the temptation to tell them where they went wrong; what they could have or should have done differently. They’ve probably already had that conversation with themselves and here are three good reasons you should keep negative opinions to yourself:

1. They don’t want to hear it.
2. You’re not earning any brownie points with the Lord by kicking a person who is already down.
3. You’re missing an opportunity to let Christ use you for good.

Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you. Ephesians 4:29

We all know someone who makes terrible decisions, one after another and when those choices come back to bite them, they are sad and hurt. You may even have told them ahead of time it was a bad move and they did it anyway, but when they come to you in need of comfort, that is what they should get.

If you don’t know what to say, let the Holy Spirit guide your tongue. He’ll always give you the right words at the right time.

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13