Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Amplified Bible (AMP)

I was having one of those mornings. I wouldn’t say I was depressed; just a little discouraged. I was discouraged enough, though, to ask The Lord in prayer, “Would you be willing to send me a little encouragement? I’m kind of wondering if anybody cares.” About 30 minutes later, I received a phone call from a friend I hadn’t spoken with in some time.  The first words out of his mouth were, “I just want you to know that I appreciate what you are doing. It’s important. Don’t give up!” As soon as I heard him speak those words, I smiled, both inside and out.

Sometimes the opportunity to be an encouragement will stare you right in the face. It’ll be impossible to miss, and when it is, be sure to take it. Other times, out of the blue, you’ll feel like the Holy Spirit is prompting you to do something to encourage someone else. You may not know why, and you may even feel a little silly offering a word of encouragement to someone who doesn’t appear to need it. But, the Holy Spirit knows what our brothers and sisters in Christ need even when we don’t, so when you feel led to encourage, just obey. It won’t take much of your time to do so.

On the flip side, don’t be too proud to ask for help from The Lord when you need it. Pride, when we display it, acts a wall between us and our Father, preventing us from enjoying the strengthening that only The Lord can provide. In contrast, when we bring our petitions humbly before His throne, He’s quite happy to offer the strength we need, right when we need it. What a wonderful blessing that is, and it’s a blessing that is continually at our disposal. All we have to do is ask for it.