Encouragement, promises of God’s

God’s encouragement affirmed

Psalm 10:17–18 ESV

O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

See also 1 Pe 5:10; Je 29:11; Is 41:10; 1 Ch 29:12; Is 49:13; Ac 20:32; Zec 1:17; Ps 89:20–21

Means by which God encourages believers

Meditation on his law and word

Jos 1:8–9; Ro 15:4

See also Ps 1:1–3; Heb 12:5

Experience of the Holy Spirit

Jn 14:16–17 The word used for Spirit here means “Counsellor” or “one who encourages or comforts”.

See also Php 2:1; Ac 9:31; Ro 8:18–27

Experience of God’s encouragement

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 ESV

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

See also Ps 86:17; 1 Pe 1:3; Heb 6:18; Is 52:9; Ac 9:31; 1 Sa 30:6; 2 Co 1:3–4; 2 Ti 4:17; Ac 23:11; Heb 12:5; Da 10:18–19

God’s encouragement experienced through the words and actions of others

Jdg 7:11 Gideon and the dream of the Midianite soldier; 2 Ch 15:8; Ezr 6:22 the returned exiles helped by the king of Assyria; Ac 28:15; 2 Co 7:4; 2 Co 7:13

Commands to be encouraged

1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

See also Jos 1:18; Ps 27:14; Jos 10:25; 1 Ch 28:20; Mt 14:27; Dt 31:6–8; Jos 1:6–8; 1 Ch 22:13; 2 Ch 19:11; 2 Ch 32:7 King Hezekiah; Ezr 10:4; Is 54:2 growth of the nation of Israel after the exile

Paul to his shipmates:

Ac 27:22; Ac 27:25; Ac 27:36

Effects of being encouraged

Isaiah 40:30–31 ESV

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

See also Col 2:2; Php 2:1–2; 1 Th 2:11–12; Ro 15:5; 1 Co 14:3; Ps 25:3; 2 Co 3:12

Prayers for encouragement

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 ESV

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

See also Ps 119:28; Ne 6:9; Is 38:14; Ro 15:5–6; Col 1:10–12