Standing With Him: How to Support the Christian Men in Your Life

What if one of the greatest gifts we can give the men in our lives is our belief in them?

Last week, we reflected on the powerful impact godly men have in our families and communities. Today, as we continue our Father’s Day series, I want to focus on how we can support and encourage the men in our lives as they navigate the challenges of biblical manhood.

Looking to the bible we see a lot of fathers, some good some not so much.  Let's look through a few.  

✅ Positive Father Figures

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❌ Negative or Flawed Father Figures

The bible should be our guidebook we look to it for answers and examples.   We know that God is purposeful with everything that He does.  So we can look to the examples in the bible and see the results of good and bad fathers and how we can encourage the men in our lives to be the best fathers possible.

The Challenge of Biblical Manhood Today 

It’s not easy to be a man of God in today’s culture. Men face unique pressures and contradictory messages:

• Be strong, but not too strong
• Be vulnerable, but don’t show weakness
• Be a provider, but don’t work too much
• Be present at home, but be successful at work
• Lead your family, but don’t be controlling
• Be spiritual, but don’t be “too religious”

These conflicting expectations, combined with a culture that often devalues or misrepresents masculinity, create a challenging landscape for men seeking to follow Christ.

The Power of Encouragement

1 Thessalonians 5:11 reminds us to “encourage one another and build each other up.” Few things are more powerful than genuine encouragement, especially for men who may rarely receive it.

Hebrews 3:13 takes it further, instructing us to “encourage one another daily.” This suggests that encouragement isn’t just a nice gesture—it’s a spiritual discipline that strengthens the entire body of Christ.

I think of Paul in the new testament and how he encouraged Timothy  (Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Timothy 1:4)  over 20 times to be strong.  And there were a variety of other ways that Paul encouraged Timothy 

 Encouraging Timothy to be an example:

Paul reminds Timothy to not let anyone look down on him because of his youth, but to set an example for believers in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

Encouraging Timothy to remain faithful to the truth:

Paul urges Timothy to hold tightly to the truth and sound teachings that he has heard from Paul (2 Timothy 1:13).

Encouraging Timothy to focus on his calling:

Paul reminds Timothy to focus on the work of an evangelist, to herald the gospel and lead others to faith (2 Timothy 1:8).

Encouraging Timothy to be strong in the face of adversity:

Paul encourages Timothy to be strong and endure, even in the face of suffering and persecution (2 Timothy 2:1-2).

Encouraging Timothy to pass on his learning:

Paul encourages Timothy to entrust the message he has received to faithful people who can also teach others (2 Timothy 2:2).

We can use the example of Paul to find a variety of ways to encourage the men in our lives and to do it often.   

Practical Ways to Support the Men in Your Life

 1. Speak Life-Giving Words

 Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “the tongue has the power of life and death.” Your words can breathe life into a man’s spirit and calling.

Consider saying things like:

• “I believe in you.”
• “I see how hard you’re working.”
• “I appreciate the way you lead our family.”
• “I notice how you’re growing spiritually.”
• “Thank you for providing for us.” 

2. Pray Specifically and Tell Him

Few things are more powerful than knowing someone is praying specifically for you. Consider:

• Praying for his specific challenges and telling him exactly what you’re praying for
• Writing prayers in a journal and sharing them with him
• Praying together about his concerns and dreams
• Creating prayer cards with Scripture that addresses his current season 

3. Create Space for Growth

 Men, like iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17), need relationships with other godly men. You can support this by:

• Encouraging him to join a men’s Bible study or small group
•  Supporting time for him to mentor younger men or be mentored
• Understanding when he needs time with Christian brothers
• Helping create margin in his schedule for spiritual disciplines 

4. Recognize His Efforts

Many men wonder if what they’re doing matters. Simple recognition can be profoundly encouraging:

Acknowledge his hard work, both at his job and at home Point out specific ways you see him growing as a leader Thank him for the sacrifices he makes for your family Celebrate his spiritual victories, even the small ones 

Next week, we’ll complete our Father’s Day series by focusing on raising the next generation of godly men. Until then, I encourage you to find specific ways to support and encourage the men God has placed in your life.

Standing with the men who lead,

Cathleen Thomas

Founder, Olive Grove Life

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

P.S. What’s one way you’ve found to effectively encourage the men in your life?

Comment below to share your wisdom—your insight might be exactly what another reader needs to hear!