1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”
Encouragement is not optional in the Christian life—it is essential maintenance for weary souls. Paul assumes believers are already encouraging one another, but he urges them to continue. Revival does not eliminate weariness; it equips the church to respond to it with grace.
To encourage is to strengthen courage in another. It is to remind them of what is true when circumstances distort vision. Encouragement speaks hope without denying hardship and truth without minimizing pain. Revival restores this ministry because revived believers are less absorbed with themselves and more attentive to others.
Notice that Paul pairs comfort with edification. Encouragement is not empty reassurance. It builds up. It steadies faith. It reminds believers of God’s promises and their calling. Words matter—spoken at the right time, they can keep a soul from collapsing.
A lack of encouragement creates spiritual isolation even in crowded churches. People may attend faithfully yet quietly struggle. Revival sensitizes hearts to notice discouragement before it becomes despair.
Encouragement also requires intentionality. It does not happen accidentally. It requires listening, observation, and the willingness to speak life. Revival trains believers to open their mouths not only to correct, but to strengthen.
Ask yourself today: who needs encouragement right now? Not flattery, but truth spoken kindly. God often uses simple words to carry great grace.
A church that encourages one another becomes a place where faith is sustained—not because life is easy, but because no one walks alone.