Encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 1 Thessalonians 5:14

Tim was puzzled. Why was his eighteen-year-old son spending so much time in the library these days? His son, who was autistic and rarely spoke to anyone, would usually return straight home after class. What changed? When pressed, his son finally replied: “Studying with Navin.”

It turned out that Navin was a classmate who noticed Tim’s son was struggling in class and invited him to study together. This budding friendship—the first in eighteen years—greatly encouraged the disheartened father who’d given up hope of his son ever having a friend.

Hope was renewed because one person cared enough to come alongside another who needed help. In Paul’s ministry to the early church, he knew this also applied to our hope of salvation. For believers in Jesus to “be awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6), living in the hope of His return, they had to help one another (v. 11), especially those who were struggling.

That’s why, even though these believers led lives of love that pleased God (4:1, 10), Paul reminded them to “encourage the disheartened, help the weak” (5:14). When we notice believers in Christ who are fearful, anxious, or despondent, we come alongside them—whether to listen, offer a kind word, or sit quietly together—and God can use us to give them the strength and courage to hold on to their hope in Jesus.

Adapted from an article by Jasmine Goh

REFLECT & PRAY

Who in your community can you come alongside this week? What can you do to show them care and attention?

Dear God, please help me to care for the disheartened and the weak so that their hope in Jesus may be renewed. Amen.