If faith is important to you, you want your friends to know the joy of strong faith, too. There are few things more exciting than when a dear friend becomes a new believer and shares a common faith with us.

I’ve been blessed to see a lot of friends make commitments of faith. But it isn’t always easy. We often need to support and encourage one another in our faith, and that is something we’re called to do.

Here are some ways you can offer spiritual encouragement to a friend throughout their faith journey.

How to Help a Friend Grow in Their Faith

1. Uplifting Scripture

The Bible can help you encourage your friend in their faith, even if you’re not sure how to help or what to say.

The Gospels are a great start if your friend needs to hear the inspiring teachings of Jesus about love, kindness, and forgiveness.

The Proverbs have many practical words of wisdom that are great for memory verses. And the Psalms can help us find hope even in the most challenging situations we face as believers.

There are plenty of reminders throughout scripture that God is always with us and sharing verses with your friend now and then will be a great help to them in their faith.

2. Prayer

Whether it’s praying together, praying for your friend in your own prayer time, or asking someone to pray for your friend, prayer is a powerful way to strengthen faith for ourselves, and to be there for our friends.

If you’re not sure how to pray for your friend, you can find some Psalms to use as prayers. You can ask your friend what to pray for, too. Or you can simply take a moment of your day to ask God to strengthen them and encourage them in their faith. He is always listening.

3. Enjoying Nature

Many people feel closer to God or more aware of God’s presence after spending time enjoying nature. Going to your favorite park, greenway, or other natural area with your friend is a great way to spend quality time, and it’s a unique way for them to find beauty in life during a challenging season.

4. Cards and Letters

There’s nothing like receiving an unexpected card or letter of encouragement from someone we care about. Sending a note to your friend with your favorite verse or uplifting quote is a great way to encourage them in their faith, especially if they live farther from you and don’t get to visit often. You can send a card for holidays, birthdays, or any time you want them to know you are thinking of them and praying for them.

5. Worshipping Together

If you live near your friend, worshipping together is a great way to grow stronger in faith and find encouragement. And if you feel like your friend needs extra support, there are plenty of resources in your faith community, and plenty of people who want to help.

TheHopeLine can help, too. We have a library of blogs, eBooks, and podcasts that offer practical ways to live faithfully no matter what. And when you need someone to talk to, you can reach out to a HopeCoach via chat or email. We are here for you, and we pray your faith journey is full of blessings.

Sometimes we're afraid of sharing our faith with friends, but we can do it without harming most friendships. Here's how.