As we enter a new year, let’s take a minute to think about the impact that encouragement could have on the months ahead. With new year’s resolutions, yearly goals, and hopeful wishes being made, encouragement in 2025 could be the feather on the scale that pushes us forward in all that we do this year. Encouragement is a spiritual gift and a reflection of God’s grace that sustains us and others on life’s journey. In Scripture, we find countless examples where God, through His Word and His people, offers encouragement to inspire perseverance, renewal, and trust in His providence.

In the Gospels, Jesus consistently encouraged those around Him, whether through healing, teaching, or offering forgiveness. For example, His invitation in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest”, we find God encouraging us out of love to find rest in Him. We find encouragement being spoken about again in scripture when Saint Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”, a call to action that fosters unity and resilience.

Life is not easy, and it is even harder when we go it alone. It is healthy to make goals and to set standards and expect and desire good for ourselves and those around us, but without hard work, discipline, commitment, and faith, growth is unattainable. We need encouragement in our lives. We need it in our daily tasks, and in our physical endeavors, but most importantly in our faith. Encouragement renews hope, reminding us of God’s faithfulness. He is the perfect example to us of how to encourage and instill hope in everyone we meet. When we are filled with the Love of God, we exude that love to all those we encounter. We exude love, hope, and encouragement. We become a beacon of light for everyone to see.

As we step into this new year with hope and determination, let us embrace the transformative power of encouragement. It is more than just kind words—it is a spiritual act that reflects God’s love and grace, inspiring perseverance and unity in our lives and communities. By looking to the ultimate example of Jesus, who encouraged others with compassion and truth, we can draw strength to uplift those around us. Let us commit to being vessels of hope, spreading light and encouragement in a world that desperately needs it. Together, through faith, love, and the shared gift of encouragement, we can make 2025 a year of growth, renewal, and unwavering trust in God’s promises.