The ability to bring out the best in others is important for two reasons. First, we usually see in people what we expect to see. If we’re looking for things to criticise in someone, we’ll usually find them, but if we’re focusing on reasons to praise and encourage, we’ll find them instead. We need to try and see others as God sees them, look for the good in them, and then make this a habit whenever we meet people. We should apply the words of Philippians 4:8: ‘Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise’ (NLT). Second, they generally rise to our level of expectation. Imagine how the Philippian believers felt when Paul said, ‘I thank my God every time I remember you.’ When we have faith in someone, we give them an incredible gift, maybe the best gift we can give another person. There’s an often-repeated saying: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. We can apply a similar idea to the gift of believing in someone: Give them money, and they may soon have spent it. Give them resources, and they may not use them to the best advantage. Give them help, and they may become too reliant on others or refuse to learn for themselves and end up back where they started. But demonstrate faith in them, and they can become confident, invigorated, self-reliant, and motivated to obtain the skills they need to grow.

What Now?

Is there someone who demonstrated faith in you and encouraged you? If you can, write that person a letter or send them a message to say thank you.