St. Arbucks Chapel – October 15, 2025

Who Needs Encouragement?

Truett Cathy (founder of Chick-fil-A) once said, “How do you identify someone who needs encouragement? Answer: That person is breathing.”

You can be sure that every person you encounter today will benefit from a good word. You may not be able to solve their problems, but you can give them a little extra fuel for their journey.

Remember…. In the Bible, the concept of “encouragement” is primarily conveyed through the Greek words parakaleō (the verb) and paraklēsis (the noun), both of which have a rich and multifaceted etymology.

Etymology of parakaleō and paraklēsis

The Greek words are formed from two parts:

  • Para-: A prefix meaning “alongside” or “near”.
  • Kaleō: The verb “to call.”

Combined, they create the idea of “calling someone to one’s side.”  In other words, it is about “being with,” and speaking a word that builds up and doesn’t tear down.

How do you offer encouragement? Here are a handful of suggestions.

Remember that you can’t give encouragement when you’re talking about yourself. Especially when you’re talking about your problems. Sometimes we try to give others a little perspective on their problems by telling them how bad ours are. It doesn’t help.

Point out what they’re doing right. They probably already know what isn’t working, and they probably already know what they’re doing wrong. Tell them what is working. Tell them something good about themselves. Don’t worry, they won’t get big-headed about it.

Tell them what you see for them in the future. Tell them how things can be. Remind them of what God can do, how God can transform any situation for the glory of God, how God can transform any person into the image of Christ, and how the Lord our God can use anyone to accomplish God’s purposes.

Remember…people need encouragement.

Isaiah said…

Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with an anxious heart, “Take courage, fear not. Behold your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but he will save you.” (Isaiah 35:3-4)