Encouragement: Urging others to persist and persevere in their efforts to attain their goals; stimulating others toward love and good deeds.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 10:24)
“You Got This!”
Have you ever heard this or more powerfully felt this from your spouse? Isn’t it an amazing feeling to know that no matter what the day threw at you, you could come home and your spouse would be your encouragement?
What could be a more beautiful feeling of “being home” than hearing and feeling your spouse encourage you?
But…what if the opposite is your experience? What if you dread going home after a difficult day because you know you will just have to “suck it up!” You won’t feel or receive encouragement when you walk through the door.
Let’s take a look at how we can BE an encouragement for our spouse. After-all, we can only change ourselves, we cannot change our spouse. Right?
THREE SOURCES OF LIGHT – Help Us Experience Encouragement
Light Source #1: Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12)
Walking in the Light: Having a fresh encounter with Jesus.
I think about Jesus on any given day during his ministry here on earth, and I can imagine a Savior consistently, genuinely encouraging those around Him. We strive to look more and more like Jesus as we mature in faith. What are some ways that God has encouraged you? Do you think you can encourage your spouse in similar ways?
Below are some scripture promises that God will never leave us alone. He encouraged while He was here on earth, and He will encourage us today. May we reflect Him to our spouse in this way.
God will always be with us to help us when there is a big or overwhelming task before us. Isaiah 43:1-2
When we feel tired and discouraged, God will help us finish what we’ve started. Isaiah 41:10
God will use others to encourage us and will use us to encourage others. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
God doesn’t leave us to do this life alone…now that is encouraging!!!
Light Source #2: God’s Word is a lamp and a light, so walk in the light of frequent experiences of doing His Word. Psalm 119: 105
Let’s do: Genesis 2:18
The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
God gave you your spouse on purpose. That is an amazing thought. When your spouse is struggling, God gave you to him/her to be an encouragement, to lift them up, and to be a cheerleader!
What a privilege and honor to be the one God uses to minister to your spouse’s needs.
Will you be the best helper you can be and meet the need for encouragement in your spouse? Ask God how to meet this need in him/her through you, after-all He created him/her.
Encouragement for your spouse can be communicated through statements such as these:
I believe in you.
You can do it.
You are so smart and I know this is something you can figure out. Don’t give up!
Light Source #3: God’s people are sources of light so walk in real fellowship with Your Spouse: “the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14
Would you ask your spouse how he/she needs encouragement from you? Truly that is a great way to know exactly how to meet this need for your spouse. How you meet the need of encouragement for your spouse appropriately is as individual as the person. You could share the same need for encouragement, but your need may be met quite differently from your spouse.
Would you ask your spouse how you can be an encouragement to him/her? Ask him/her to give you specific ways to meet this need for them. Remember that your doing this well may make the difference between the attitude of your spouse and the atmosphere of your home.