When you help someone climb a hill, you end up at the top.
On our recent trip I talked a lot about the word ENCOURAGE, which I define as “giving courage to someone else.” I used this photo of a hill to illustrate a challenge, and asked listeners to think of someone they knew who was facing a difficult life obstacle. I asked them to picture that person standing at the bottom, looking up at an apparently insurmountable climb, and saying, “I can’t do it. It’s too hard. I quit.”
ENCOURAGE means to come alongside, put an arm on a shoulder, and say, “Come on. We can do this. I’ll help.”
ENCOURAGE is more than cheering from the sidelines. It’s entering the field, taking a few steps, sharing the struggle. It’s literally showing someone how to have courage.
And here’s an interesting dynamic:
When you help someone climb a hill, you end up at the top.
Encouragers become more courageous. Giving away courage is like giving away love—the more you give, the more you have.
For clients in a rehab center, kids feeling lost on a university campus, and perhaps you and me—it’s a cool image of how God’s design for community works.
Want to find courage? Encourage someone—don’t just cheer, but engage, take a few hard steps with them.
It’s a great way to get up the hill.
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