According to the calendar in my office, September 12th is designated as the “National Day of Encouragement.” This was the first time I had ever heard of this day of observance. Seems like nowadays every day is dedicated to something. What is this National Day of Encouragement?
This day of observance started with a group of young students at the National Leadership Forum at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, in 2007. They saw a lack of encouragement as one of the main obstacles that youth face. Recognizing an urgent need to help each other overcome negative influences, they came up with the idea of The Encouragement Project, which developed the National Day of Encouragement. September 12th was chosen because the events of 9/11 brought a great need for encouragement. Later that same year, President George W. Bush signed a document designating September 12th as the National Day of Encouragement. A Senate resolution for the day was introduced by Arkansas Senator Mark Pryor and was passed by unanimous consent on September 13, 2011.
Our young people certainly need encouragement. Standards of morality and respectful behavior that were understood by previous generations aren’t even recognized by some young people today. Many children are growing up in broken homes, repeating cycles of failure displayed before them. Statistically, many young people today are dealing with feelings of hopelessness, sadness, despondency, and despair. The children of faithful Christians are not immune to these challenges. They are being influenced by an evil world in ways that us older folks just can’t comprehend. Yes, our young people need encouragement.
However, all of us need encouragement. In addition to the common struggles of daily life, each of us faces unique challenges with things like our health, relationships, and finances – just to name a few. As Christians we struggle with temptations and concerns regarding the spreading of the gospel and the faithfulness of God’s people in this world.
The Lord saw fit to have His people involved in the work of encouraging one another. Numerous times in the book of Acts, apostles and evangelists were said to encourage Christians (Acts 11:23; 14:22; 16:40; 20:1-2; 27:22-25). Paul struggled in his efforts to preach so that “hearts may be encouraged” (Col. 2:2). He sent Timothy to the Thessalonians “to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith” (1 Thess. 3:2).
Christians are admonished to “warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all” (1 Thess. 5:14). We are to “strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees” (Heb. 12:12). We are to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2).
While the country may have its National Day of Encouragement, Christians know that every day is a day of encouragement. We benefit from the encouragement we receive from others. We must look for opportunities to be a source of encouragement to others. Do you know of someone who is discouraged? Go out of your way to see them. Speak kind words to brighten their spirits. Share Scriptures that are appropriate for their needs. Let them know you are praying for them today. Plan to spend time together with them. These are just a few ideas that can help us become a needed source of encouragement to others.