You Can Do It!

Encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

“I’m so excited to perform!” Eva told her mom. She winced as her mom pulled her hair into a tight bun. Eva was new to the dance team, but she’d spent countless hours perfecting her dance. Today was the day of the big competition.

“You’re gonna do great, honey,” Eva’s mom said, patting a little blush on Eva’s cheeks. “You’re ready for it!”

At the convention center, Eva quickly put on her costume, then went backstage with her coach and her team to wait their turn. From behind the thick, black curtain, she could hear the other girls performing. Then she turned to her teammate Brynn and noticed that her eyes were wide and fearful.

“What’s wrong?” Eva asked.

“I’m so nervous I’ll mess up!” Brynn confessed.

Eva immediately grasped Brynn’s hand. “You’ll be fine,” she told her. “We’re going to do a good job.”

Brynn nodded as Eva continued to hold hands with her until it was their turn to perform. As they walked onstage, Eva gave her hand one final squeeze right before they took their places.

We all can get nervous or afraid from time to time, and we need friends who will notice and encourage us in those times. And when we keep our eyes open and hearts sensitive to those around us, we’ll notice—just as Eva did—that something is wrong even when our friends haven’t said anything aloud yet. The Bible tells us that we should build each other up, finding ways to call out our friends’ strengths and cheer them on when they are uncertain. It’s what good friends do for one another.

Things to Think About

• Have you ever noticed one of your friends was nervous or afraid? What did you do or say to encourage them?
• How has someone comforted you when you were afraid?

DAILY ACT OF FRIENDSHIP

Look for someone who may be afraid or nervous and offer them words of support.