On Second Thought
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” — Proverbs 12:25
Encouragement is one of the simplest gifts we can offer, yet it is also one of the most frequently withheld. We notice that someone appears weary, but we hesitate to speak. We wonder whether our words will sound awkward, whether we understand the situation well enough, or whether the person would rather be left alone. Consequently, the encouraging word remains unspoken, and a burdened person continues carrying a weight we might have helped lighten.
The Hebrew word translated “anxiety” in Proverbs 12:25 is de’agah, referring to worry, apprehension, or troubled concern. Anxiety pushes the heart downward, like a heavy load bending a traveler’s back. The expression translated “a kind word” is davar tov—a good, beneficial, or fitting word. The proverb does not claim that a sentence will solve every emotional struggle. It teaches that the right word, spoken with genuine care, can help a burdened heart rise again.
Encouragement is more than complimenting someone. The word itself suggests putting courage into another person. It does not deny pain, offer shallow optimism, or insist that everything will quickly improve. Biblical encouragement helps someone remember what fear, exhaustion, or disappointment has caused them temporarily to forget: God remains faithful, their labor has meaning, they are not alone, and the next step is still possible.
Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 3 give us an insightful picture of this ministry. Israel stood near the land God had promised, and Joshua would soon carry the responsibility of leading the people forward. Moses reminded Joshua of the victories God had already given over Sihon and Og: “Your own eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two kings.” Moses encouraged Joshua by directing his attention away from the size of the remaining opposition and back toward the proven faithfulness of God.
That is one of the strongest forms of encouragement we can offer. When someone is facing an uncertain future, we can help that person remember where God has already been faithful. Fear tends to erase yesterday’s evidence and magnify tomorrow’s dangers. A caring friend restores perspective: “Remember what the Lord has already carried you through. The God who was faithful then has not changed.”
Moses also told Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22). He did not pretend that Joshua’s assignment would be easy. There were fortified cities, powerful armies, difficult decisions, and people who would not always cooperate. Encouragement did not minimize those realities. It placed them beside the greater reality of God’s presence.
We sometimes weaken encouragement by making promises God has not made. We tell someone that everything will work out exactly as desired, when we cannot know that. Faithful encouragement says something stronger and more honest: “I do not know how this situation will unfold, but I know you will not face it without God. I will also walk beside you as far as I am able.”
Later, God instructed Moses, “Commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him” (Deuteronomy 3:28). This command is especially moving because Moses had just learned that he would not enter the land himself. He would see it from a distance, but Joshua would lead Israel into it. Moses was called to strengthen another person for an assignment he deeply desired but would not receive.
That is mature encouragement. It celebrates what God is doing in another person without making that person’s opportunity about our disappointment. A parent encourages a child to go farther. A retiring worker prepares a successor to thrive. A pastor strengthens another leader whose ministry may reach places his own never reached. Encouragement is willing to invest in victories that someone else will experience.
Dr. David Jeremiah recounts a dark season when another pastor telephoned him and said, “I want you to know I’m here if you need me.” The pastor prayed with him and continued calling week after week. He did not deliver a complicated explanation or attempt to repair everything in one conversation. His consistency communicated care. A few sincere sentences, repeated through faithful presence, helped pour courage into a discouraged heart.
This teaches us that encouragement should not always be a single moment. Some burdens are too heavy to be lifted by one conversation. The first call may let someone know we care; the second shows that we remembered. The third demonstrates that our concern was not merely an impulse. Encouragement gains credibility when it remains present after the first emotion has passed.
We should also learn to make our encouragement specific. “Good job” may be pleasant, but “I noticed how patiently you listened when that person was struggling” helps someone recognize the grace God is developing within them. “I appreciate you” is valuable, but “Your faithfulness during this difficult season has helped me remain steady” reveals the difference their life is making.
Someone near us may be carrying an invisible burden today. The strongest-looking person in the room may be exhausted. The person who encourages everyone else may wonder whether anyone notices their own struggle. We do not need perfect words. We need a willing heart, attentive eyes, and enough courage to speak.
On Second Thought
We often assume encouragement should come from people who feel strong, successful, and certain. Yet some of the most credible encouragement comes from those who are carrying disappointment themselves. Moses strengthened Joshua while grieving a future he would not personally experience. The unexpected truth is that our wounds do not necessarily disqualify us from encouraging others; surrendered to God, they may teach us how to speak with greater tenderness.
We may also discover that the person we encourage becomes part of God’s encouragement to us. When we step outside our own heaviness long enough to speak a good word, we are reminded that grace is still active and that our lives can still bless someone. Sometimes God lightens an anxious heart by sending an encourager, and sometimes He lightens it by giving that heart someone else to encourage. Today, speak the good word. Make the call. Send the message. Pray with the person. You may be placing courage back into a heart that was nearly ready to give up.
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