1. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
   And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
   

The scripture above directs us to encourage the Timid.  My question is what are ways that we encourage these individuals? My observation is that many times it appears as if these individuals are just kind of coasting along. If something appears to be hard they are more likely to take the easier solution. They to do not want to fail so therefore they do nothing?

That being said I do not want to crush them but putting to much pressure but as the scripture below states. With God as disciples we should be bold and have a spirit of power with Gods help.

Does the below scripture infer that if they are timid that they are lacking in love or self-discipline?

1. 2 Timothy 1:7
   For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
   

Hey Brother, I know that you do not know me. I speak as someone that has put a lot of pressure on timid brothers and ultimately hurt some of them. I feel like I was not living 1 Thess 5:14 at the time.

Considering that Paul was talking to Timothy and the preceding verse says, "I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God", I don't think so. Paul mentions that Timothy has a sincere faith like his grandmother and reminds him to keep the pattern of sound teaching with faith and love.

From the context of it, I believe he is encouraging Timothy to do what he can to cultivate the gift God has given him. That seems more like encouragement than pressure.

Besides, as 1 Thess 5:14 says, encourage the timid. If anyone is in danger of being crushed, it might be the idle as Paul instructs them to be warned. However, since patience applies to everyone, I think we just have to be patient.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for the response, I am struggling on the best way to encourage. I am a very patient person but I fear that if the correct encouragement is not given then that could cultivate complacentcy. In my experience it in not a lack of love but a lack of self-diciplne and conviction.

I need to focus of how to help them realize the gift that has be Given to them.

I understand where you are coming from. I want folks to be strong and confident. It can be frustrating to see someone that you care about continue to be afraid, or at least hesitant.

Encouragement can done in a few ways. I understand that discretion is required, so choose whichever one or ones you think best.

1. Giving encouragement can be verbal:

I believe in you.

I am rooting for you.

I am on your side.

God is on your side.

2. Asking questions can encourage some:
Is there anything I can do to help?

Would talking about it help?

Do you just want some space for a while?

3. Giving credit for smaller victories and/or effort.

Good try!

I know you put your heart into it.

Congratulations! I know it's not the ultimate goal, but it's a step in the right direction.

4. Offering partnership.

Would it help if I went with you?

Do you want me to be closeby?

Is there someone that helps you feel more confident that can help?

Can I help you make a plan?

5. Serving in small ways:

For example, I know you're busy with two small kids, how about I babysit for a couple hours while you go do ...

6. Just listening, even if you've heard the same thing many times.

It's been my experience that continued encouragement leads to others feeling loved. Love overcomes fear as echoed in 1 John. Complacency comes when others feel like I am doing instead of teaching, or trying to meet an agenda. They tend to think that I care more about their behavior rather than them as a person. I had to learn the hard way that sometimes I wanted a person to be different so much, I would try to force them to be different. That never worked - ultimately a person has to overcome their own fears, I cannot do it for them.

Hope that helps in some way. I will pray for you and the person you care about.

PS sorry for the lack of paragraph breaks. Something about my linux box doesn't translate well. I've even hard coded paragraph and line breaks into the HTML with no success.

Hi! Can I add a word to your discussion? I've actually been the one who needed special encouragement, the timid one, as Scriptures say. And I've been struggling with lots of pressure from other people's expectations of me.

As I see it, and I think it corresponds to how God relates to us, if the person knows that you accept him/her and love them the way they are, that is with all their, as we say it, "cockroachs", I mean all their failures, faults and so on; and if you have some exectations of them - they can meet your expectations only after you've shown your love. And if you just demand something of somebody, if you just lay down your expectations without support - that doesn't work. God loved us first (1 John 4:10) when we were still sinners. When you feel you are accepted you yourself want to grow up to the expectatons of the one who loves you. When you don't feel this love, you don't want to meet their expectations, you rebel against them.

I agree completely with HeartlandDad that first you show love 'cause love overcomes fear, and second you show love, and third you show love, and you show love for the fourth time if it is necessary even if a person fails to meet your expectations many tims because we are commanded by God to love each other (John 13:34-35) and fogive each other (Mathew 18:21-22)

A good topic by Stfleck, reminds me the my convictions how disciples connect with each other, and thanks for HeartlandDad's sharing, practical ways and powerful!! Luchik, I learned from you too!  

For me,benefit or effectiveness of "encourge timid, help the weak and be patient with everyone" are mainly below 2:

a. win other people's trust, respect, and their heart -- it helps building strong personal relationship;

<Luke 5:1~11> Jesus calls his disciples from fisherman -- "catch men" he request at the end; how to "catch men", I think it's important for all the relationship,discipleship,or friendship or else,win people's heart first; so that we can possibly have more interaction and influence to each other;

b. help church group, the whole body grows in unity,syncretic, full of love; Unity body can do awesome work than individuals;  <1 Corinthians12:24~26>;<Ephesians 4:16>,<Colossians 3:16>

Trust God will make everyone grow, no matter who plants or who waters.

Btw, everyone has his/her weak moment, timid charactor person are usually very kind and friendly, very good company in friendship... thanks again for patiently reading :)

Heartland thankyou for the list. It helps me to see others ideas.  i know that i have tried many of these but they all are great.

Luchik you really struck a chord when you shared this "When you feel you are accepted you yourself want to grow up to the expectatons of the one who loves you. When you don't feel this love, you don't want to meet their expectations, you rebel against them."

Growth does not have to be fast it just has to be....

This thread may already be over, but I'll offer my two cents for whatever it's worth.

1 Thes 5:14 talks about comforting/consoling/encouraging the "little-soul persons"

It's worth noticing that we are all expected to comfort and encourage each other.

1thes 4:18, 1thes 5:11

Christ is the source of all comfort.  If you want to encourage/comfort, it must come from the Gospel.  From God's promises.  From reminding each other of our living hope in Christ.  I could be wrong, but I think pressuring someone to be bold, with a Spirit of Power, is different from gently, and lovingly, reminding them of what we have in Christ.  I mean if it was me, I wouldn't want someone pressuring me into a situation that, perhaps, I'm not comfortable with.  But rather encouraging me with scripture, so that I can get excited about God's promises so that I can find strength in God to accomplish whatever it is God wants me to accomplish.

As for 2 tim 1:, consider it first in another translation.

2 Timothy 1:7 (HCSB)
⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

Peace,

Glen