Encouragement

To encourage is to:
· inspire with courage, spirit, heart or hope
· nurture, advance or support
· promote confidence in a positive outcome
· foster through the expression of approval
· provide tangible or moral assistance

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25

A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
Proverbs 15:13

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 17:22

And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words; though briers and thorns are all around you and you dwell and sit among scorpions, be not afraid of their words nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.
Ezekiel 2:6

He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firmly fixed, trusting (leaning on and being confident) in the Lord.
Psalm 112:7

...The Lord is my Light and my Salvation--whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?
Hebrews 13:6

In the day when I called, You answered me; and You strengthened me with strength (might and inflexibility to temptation) in my inner self.
Psalm 138:3

Then there touched me again one whose appearance was like that of a man, and he strengthened me.
Daniel 10:18

But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the [Gospel] message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion.
2 Timothy 4:17

But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him...
Deuteronomy 3:28

...Be strong and of good courage. Dread not and fear not; be not dismayed.
1 Chronicles 22:13

...encourage the timid and fainthearted, help and give your support to the weak souls, [and] be very patient with everybody [always keeping your temper].
1 Thessalonians 5:14

I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me.
Matthew 25:36

So [instead of further rebuke, now] you should rather turn and [graciously] forgive and comfort and encourage [him], to keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive sorrow and despair.
2 Corinthians 2:7

[For my concern is] that their hearts may be braced (comforted, cheered, and encouraged) as they are knit together in love...
Colossians 2:2

...Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace...
2 Corinthians 13:11

That is, that we may be mutually strengthened and encouraged and comforted by each other's faith, both yours and mine.
Romans 1:12

And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
Galatians 6:9

We are hedged in (pressed) on every side [troubled and oppressed in every way], but not cramped or crushed; we suffer embarrassments and are perplexed and unable to find a way out, but not driven to despair;
2 Corinthians 4:8

Do not let your hearts be troubled (distressed, agitated)...
John 14:1

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]
John 14:27