Encourage and Lift Each Other Up!

By Mary-Kathryn Laws

Avery County

It’s easy to get discouraged and feel alone sometimes. We live in a sinful, dark, and broken world. Sometimes we just need a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes we just need someone to say “You are doing a great job!”.  One kind word of encouragement can make all the difference in a person.

God uses people in our everyday lives to encourage us. I am thankful for the Godly influences, role models, and relationships He has put in my way to encourage me. This has made a huge impact on me, especially on my journey through motherhood.

It can often feel like we are in this alone, or that no one sees us. This is a lie from the enemy. We can have the greatest support system, family, and friends that we know to care about us, but Satan can make us believe that no one really cares what we are going through.

This is why encouragement and community is vital in our lives.

We are called to be encouragers.

Encouragement can be as simple as telling someone the good qualities you see in them, giving a hug, or telling someone you’re praying for them.

In Acts, we learn about a man named Barnabas. His name actually means “Son of Encouragement”.

Barnabas introduced Saul to the apostles and lifted him up by telling him about what God had done in Saul, now Paul’s life.

“But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” Acts 9:27

God used Barnabas to be an encouragement in Paul’s life. Paul is known as one of the greatest Christians of all time. What if Barnabas never lifted Paul up to the apostles? I can’t help but think that as a result of his encouragement, Paul was able to do so much more for Christ.

He can use you to encourage others too! We should all make it a goal to try to encourage someone each day. Ask God to help you have compassion for others and to put someone in your path who needs encouragement! You never know how your encouragement could have an impact on someone else’s life.

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” 1 Thessalonians 5:11

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Mary-Kathryn Laws is the daughter of Chastity Ogburn, Founder of Anne Ministries. In 2018, the Lord put on Chastity’s heart the calling to reach out to those hurting from loss. Anne Ministries began in September 2018. Anne means “grace” and that is what this ministry is about, extending God’s grace and allowing Him to heal your deepest hurt. This ministry reaches out to those hurting from abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. The ministry expanded in 2021 offering pregnancy support services to those facing an unplanned pregnancy. Chastity and her family attend Emmanuel Baptist Church in Newland, NC. You can purchase her book, His Grace Covers All, on Amazon HERE.

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