Our word of encouragement bible studies will explain what these teachings are about and what the word encourage means. Then when you read one of our bible teachings you will understand what word of encouragement means.
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We all need to be encouraged and that is why we provide biblical teachings from the Word Of God. Encouragement can be the 
difference between fighting for hope and purpose or giving into the hopelessness of darkness. Life is riddled with hardships. And no one is immune to being overcome with discouragement.
The question is, where do we find real lasting encouragement?
The worlds words of encouragement are more like locker room pep talks. But God has a different way of encouraging us.
Table Of Contents
What Does The Word Encourage Mean?
The word encourage means to give courage. The opposite of this is discourage. Christians go to scripture for lasting 
encouragement. During the times our soul is downcast scripture reminds us of the hope we have in God.
encourage- to give courage to; to inspire with courage, spirit of hope; to raise, or to increase the confidence of,…the opposite of discourage – webster-dictionary.org (Webster’s 1913 Dictionary)
There are many Psalms we can read for encouragement. We will read Psalm 42. This will help us to encourage our faith and trust in God.
Psalm 42
Psalm 42:1 KJV As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8 Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Has God Forgotten You?
The psalmist asks God, “Why have you forgotten me?” (verse 9) His enemies are oppressing him. And while he feels God has forgotten him, his enemies are asking, “Where is your God?” (verse 10). His outer circumstances have created turmoil in his soul. To him and his enemies it appears God is no where to be found. The result is, he is depressed.
The result of his outer circumstances has caused him to lose inner peace and hope. It looks as if his enemies are winning. How does he encourage himself in this situation? How does he fight his way back to faith and hope in his God? (Psalm 42:5-6, 11)
He reminds himself hope is in the sovereign Lord God. We must do the same thing. There will be times we will feel as if our soul is drowning in the circumstances of our life. It is at these times we must turn to God for help and hope.
Is God Your Foundation?
Sadly we do not seek God as heavily and relentlessly as we do when our life has been turned upside down. It is these times of seeing
no end to the attacks, the turmoil, despair, etc. in which our soul needs comforting. The trials, tests, difficulties, and tragedies of life will push us toward or away from God. The psalmist chose to move toward God for comfort. His soul felt dry and barren in need of living water from his living God. His soul cried out to his God. (Psalm 42:5,11)
The Final Word From God
Psalm 42:11 KJV Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
He was still fighting to hope in God. His fight included praising God for His loving kindness (verse 8) The psalmist tells us one thing he knew for certain, his only place of help and hope comes from God.
Our encouragement is found in knowing the One in Whom we have put our faith and trust in.