Pouring into Little Hearts

You’ve seen it in your child’s face and felt it to your own core—encouragement changes everything. Like a spring rain after a drought season, encouragement lifts the heart until the body can’t hide the change. It brings metamorphosis to the posture, the outlook, and the very outcome of a life. We all need it. With the innately cheerful, optimistic character of most kids, however, it’s easy to forget that they, too, shrivel with discouragement some days.

The word encouragement derives from the root word corage, which means “heart.” Words for heart are commonly metaphors for inner strength and confidence. When we act as encouragers, we can pour into the little hearts around us, filling them up with strength and courage. Of course, we don’t have the magic potion that automatically gives them those things. But by simply lending our unwavering support, our children begin to believe in the God-given strength that is already inside them . . . and they take hold of it.

But often, it seems to fall on deaf ears. Each child will respond differently to our attempts to encourage them. We need the Lord’s help to find creative ways to better speak and trust the words are getting through.

Some will hear our cheering as intended. Others will feel like we’re always telling them what to do. “Go! Run! Shoot!” can be exciting to one player and irritating to the next. Sometimes a new toy or paintbrush says, “I believe in you.” Perhaps a reward will bolster, or maybe a challenge is needed. Sometimes it is good to heap on encouragement; other times, it seems disingenuous and is ignored.

The Lord God gives me the right words to encourage the weary. Each morning he awakens me eager to learn his teaching.

Isaiah 50:4 (CEV)

As we seek to encourage our children with all the potential we see in them, we should look out for the most effective and sincere ways to encourage each one of them uniquely. With the Lord’s wisdom, we can fill a child’s heart and help them to be their best for God.

PRAY

Father God, thank you for your encouraging words and Spirit. Please help me to pour into my children’s hearts as you do. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): How does God encourage you? How can we encourage each other?

Apply Challenge: write a little note of encouragement for each family member this week. (Sure, you can even write a note to your family pet!)

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Proverbs 12:25

Hebrews 3:13