THE NEED FOR ENCOURAGEMENT ~ Precious Victor Akah
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11.
Almost everyone in our present society wants to associate with those who have already made it and have become public figures, while no one or just a tiny percentage is proud, glad and unashamed to associate with those who are still striving to make it. The question I then have is: if those who have made it were denied encouragement in their beginning stage, would they have grown and blossomed into the mighty figures they are today, would they have really gotten to the top with no encouragement at all from any single human on earth? And, how do we expect those who are still in their beginning stage to grow quickly and blossom if we withhold encouragement from them? Ponder on it.
Some people would not celebrate their friends, family members, siblings and/or relatives on their birthday, wedding ceremony, graduation and other special events and achievements, but these same people would be the first to celebrate those who are far away - who they do not know personally and who do not know of their existence - just because they're celebrities or public figures. Hmm!
They associate with celebrities because they have made it and are on the lips of everyone - believing and hoping that by associating themselves with them, they would gain recognition for themselves or tap from the celebrity's fame and be known by the world too; what a strategy!
They give the encouragement those around them are desperately in need of to those who get lots of it or are in no need of it. I know we all want to associate with those who have achieved what we're striving to achieve, but should we neglect and despise those who are yet to achieve these things in the process? Of course not! Give them the encouragement they also need while following or celebrating the persons you want to celebrate.
You prefer to celebrate those who wouldn't know you celebrated them and who wouldn't read your celebratory messages to them, but the people around you who would greatly appreciate that you celebrated them and be encouraged by it and even read your celebratory messages and wishes and be greatly strengthened by it, you would not celebrate them.
The Bible says, "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so." Proverbs 3:27
Why do you refuse to celebrate the birthdays of your family members, or close friends, or even that of your spouse and children, but quickly rush to proudly celebrate that of a celebrity/public figure, publicly on your social media platform? For your followers on social media, for the celebrity and for the world to hopefully know about you or know that you associate with them, by uploading the celebrity's picture and tagging them to it? When was the last time you celebrated someone (not a family member, friend or colleague) who is not a celebrity on your social media platform? Such hasn't crossed your mind before? But that of celebrities always crosses your mind.😊
Why do we keep despising those who are still starting, starving them of encouragement, and keep overfeeding those who have already made it with encouragement? Those who are still climbing the ladder and those who have already reached the top of the ladder, who sincerely needs encouragement more?
The Bible tells us not to despise the days of small beginnings (Zechariah 4:10), but a lot of us are guilty of despising those who are still in their beginning stage. We distance ourselves from them, we avoid them, we fail to give them encouragement and leave them alone to do all the work, and then when they finally make it with God's help, we run back to attach ourselves to them as parasites and freeloaders, trying to reap where we did not sow. This is awful!
It's so prevalent that it's even present in the Christendom. I'm writing this to bring our attention to it and possibly curb or put an end to such in the Christendom. If the world is doing this, we shouldn't be found doing it too.
Scripture says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing" (1 Thessalonians 5:11), meaning we all need encouragement. It is not the person at the top that should be bombarded with encouragement alone, the one who is still trying to make his way to the top equally needs encouragement to get to the top. Let's learn to encourage one another. Let's learn to encourage those in their beginning phase, so they can make it to the top, too.
In the Scripture, angels encouraged and attended the Lord Jesus at least twice: after He was tempted in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights and in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43). Paul was encouraged by an angel during a storm at sea (Acts 27:23–24). Don't despise that brother or sister of yours that is still striving to realize their destiny. Encourage him or her rather. Because when they eventually get to the top, they'll never forget you.
Every child of God has the potential to rise to the top and be at the top, because the Scripture tells us that it is God's will for us to be at the top always and never at the bottom (Deuteronomy 28:13). This means that everything every child of God needs to rise to the top has been given to them - they have been empowered and endowed with it.
The reason why some never get to the top is lack of encouragement. They got tired, and when they did, no one encouraged them. The little they're doing, no one is appreciating or celebrating them for it. Yes, we counsel people not to depend on encouragement from people to realize their destiny, but we can't deny the fact that it is harder and slower for anyone to realize their destiny without a single encouragement from anyone; no wonder the angels had to come down and minister to Jesus.
Therefore, give encouragement when you can, no matter how little. You cannot tell how great the impact may have on the receiver. A lot of people have given up on their dreams, visions, goals and aspirations because of lack of encouragement from people around them, this isn't justifiable though, but we can do better.
I don't think it costs a fortune to give encouragement to anyone. Encouragement can be given in form of kind words, kind actions, promotion of what someone is doing, celebrating someone on their birthday or other special events in their life, highlighting the good someone is doing or how a fellow has blessed you, appreciating someone for the good works they're doing, giving financial assistance (if you're capable), and a host of other things that can be done to give encouragement to someone.
Encourage someone today.
If you're reading this and you're feeling discouraged and at the verge of quitting or giving up on that dream, vision, career, marriage, academics or goal you've been pursuing with little progress or no notable breakthrough yet (if God led you to it) please hang on, don't throw in the towel.
God says to you: "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand" (Isaiah 41:10). Hold on tightly to God and remain consistent in what you're doing. Victory and success is yours with God helping you, and you shall enjoy it soon, in Jesus' Name.
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