Sometimes in life, we feel completely alone. Maybe you’ve had to give a speech in front of your entire student body at school. Or maybe, at the championship basketball game when you were at the free-throw line, the game rested on your shoulders. Or maybe it was that time at camp when you were strapped in your climbing harness on the rock wall and struggling with the next handhold to reach. You are exhausted. Your legs and arms are quivering because your energy stores are empty. Your hands hurt because of the abrasiveness of the holds. Your eyes jump from grip to grip, wondering where to go from here. You see the top but doubt if you will be able to complete the climb.

Out of nowhere, a voice breaks the silence saying, “You got this! Don’t quit! The next handhold is right above you!” You look down and see it’s one of the campers in your dorm who is shouting encouragement. Suddenly you feel a renewed level of energy and enthusiasm for your climb. You look at the handholds above you, pick your next grip, and then with everything you have in your body, you lunge, grab the handhold, secure your next footing and reestablish yourself in the climb. You realize the next few handholds and steps are now within reach, and with a few quick moves, you reach the top and ring the bell. You made the climb! As you descend from the top, a sense of accomplishment fills you with joy and satisfaction in what you have just achieved.

If you’ve been in this situation, you know exactly how it feels to be on the receiving end of verbal encouragement. What an effect a few basic words can have. What energy it can create. What power to propel forward.

An encourager and one who needed encouragement

So, what about you? Can you become the next encouragement superstar?

There is no doubt that at times in life we battle thoughts of self-doubt, discouragement, disappointment and frankly, just giving up. Things did not go as planned and the adventure did not go as we had hoped. These thoughts and feelings sometimes go along with life’s usual ebb and flow. But to help us in the down or challenging moments of life, God has blessed us with personal relationships. One of the benefits of these relationships is how we can build up or strengthen another person with encouraging words.

In the book of Acts, we read about a person who was not just known as an encourager but was given the nickname Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36). His original name was Joses, but he was given an additional name because of his ability to encourage and build up others. He was a respected leader in the Church and cared deeply about others. Those in the early Church were on fire for living God’s way and were so thankful to have one another for support and encouragement. And at a time when a potential challenge arose in the congregation, Barnabas stepped forward to offer encouragement to one who deeply needed someone along his side.

Maybe you have heard of Saul, who persecuted the Church in the book of Acts. He would later become the apostle Paul, who did mighty works in the name and belief of Jesus Christ. But before his change, he had men and women thrown into prison and, in his own words, described his actions saying, “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it” (Galatians 1:13).

Could you imagine someone like Saul coming into your congregation on the Sabbath? What would you think or do if someone you knew with a reputation for trying to destroy the Church walked in the front door? If you are like me, you’d probably look for the back door to run toward, seek an open window to jump through or find a good place to hide. This is why Paul needed a friend, someone with encouraging words, on his side.

Scripture says, “When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer! Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus” (Acts 9:26-27, New Living Translation).

The Apostle Paul’s reputation was that of being a destroyer. Barnabas’ reputation was for being an encourager. It’s hard for one to change their reputation, but Barnabas was able to encourage Paul that he was in the right company, and Barnabas was able to encourage the Christians in Jerusalem that they could welcome and embrace Paul.

Time to shine—as an encourager!

Camp season is right around the corner, and at our camps, we work to establish an environment different from the world around us. It’s called “The Zone” and this environment is based on God’s way of life and demonstrates what the Kingdom of God will be like. One of the seven elements of “The Zone” is support. With this element in place, we establish a safe environment to grow, learn and sometimes fail. But in this same element, we respond to one another’s needs with compassion, empathy and the use of encouraging words.

Every day at camp, you will encounter people sharing encouraging words. The most skilled encouragers look for those that might feel alone, are struggling with an activity or are just having a bad day. When we follow the biblical principle of encouraging others, everyone will be propped up by those offering support. Can you be part of the encouragement team at camp this year?

King Solomon wrote, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

Maybe at camp this year you can share an encouraging smile with someone who looks down. Or maybe write a note of encouragement and share it privately. Or perhaps you can be the one at the base of the rock face, staring up at a climber who is struggling and about to give up, and say, “You got this! Don’t quit!” And of course, these principles don’t apply only at camp. You might find opportunities to use them at home, school or work as well.

Your words can be a source of power to someone who desperately needs them. Make a conscious choice that you will use words of encouragement to make a difference this year at camp.