Never dismiss the value and importance of an encouraging word prompted by the Holy Spirit and spoken in obedience at exactly the right time.
In 1 Corinthians 14:3, Paul writes that prophecy strengthens, encourages, and comforts people. Many Christians hear the word “prophecy” and immediately picture something dramatic, public, or deeply mystical. But often, prophetic encouragement is much simpler than that.
Sometimes it is simply noticing the person God notices, asking God what He would like to say to that person, and then speaking that word.
When Someone Stops Long Enough to See You
When I was 11 years old, life was difficult in ways I did not yet understand.
I was recovering from major foot surgery. Things at home were far from healthy. I was also being severely bullied at school. At the time, I honestly believed much of what I was experiencing was normal, even though somewhere deep inside I knew something was not right.
One day, I left my classroom to use the washroom. On my way back, I crossed paths with the school counselor in the hallway. She was walking in the opposite direction, but suddenly she hesitated.
Looking back now, I believe she was responding to a prompting from the Holy Spirit.
She stopped carefully so she would not startle me and asked matter-of-factly, “Hey, is there anything unusual going on at home?”
I answered honestly, “Nope.”
And I truly meant it.
What I was living in felt normal to me because it was all I had ever known.
She paused for a long moment and then casually changed the subject.
“Just wondering. Do you happen to know why your little sibling is twisting and pulling out their hair at school?” she asked.
I remember answering very seriously, “Maybe because they’re really smart and really bored and they’ve got nothing else to do.”
I smiled proudly because even then I liked helping adults solve problems.
The counselor simply nodded again, as if accepting my explanation at face value.
Then she said something I have never forgotten.
She told me I was a really good big sister. She told me that if I was ever bothered by anything, I could talk to her. And then she added something even more important:
“You can talk to God.”
The Power of Simple Obedience
Back then, people did recognize that compulsive hair pulling in children could point to stress or anxiety. But unless there was visible proof of abuse, schools and counselors often had limited authority to intervene.
Outwardly, she had to let the situation go.
But I know she prayed for me.
I know she obeyed the prompting of God that day.
A couple of years later, the bullying I was facing escalated severely. That same counselor stepped in again and fought to protect me at school. She couldn’t protect me anywhere else but…
She spoke truth into my life.
She reminded me that God saw me. And reminded me again. I could talk to Him whenever I wanted to and He was listening – always.
And she made sure I knew that she saw me too.
I will never forget it.
Prophecy Often Looks Like Encouragement
As an adult, I now realize something I could not fully understand at the time.
That woman stopped in the hallway long enough to engage with me because God prompted her to do it.
She strengthened me.
She encouraged me.
She comforted me.
And according to Scripture, that is exactly what prophetic ministry is meant to do.
Her words helped keep my head above waters that were trying to drown me.
God sees me.
I’m not invisible.
I have experienced other moments like that throughout my life — moments where someone obeyed the Holy Spirit and spoke exactly the right word at exactly the right time.
Not flashy words.
Not performative spirituality.
Just Spirit-led encouragement.
Ask God to Make You Aware
As followers of Christ, we should ask the Lord to help us notice people.
Ask Him to give you words that strengthen, encourage, and comfort others.
You do not need a stage.
You do not need a title.
You do not need to make a spectacle of yourself.
Sometimes all God is asking you to do is pause long enough to lean into Him and ask why He highlighted that person to you. Ask Him what He’d like that person to know. And then speak what He asks you to say. His words will always be encouraging; always strengthening.
Sometimes the most powerful ministry happens quietly in ordinary moments.
God may highlight someone to you at the grocery store, at church, online, in a waiting room, or in a hallway.
And when He does, do not dismiss it.
Speak life.
Speak hope.
Speak comfort.
You may never fully know the impact your words have on somebody’s life.
But God knows.
And that person will likely remember it forever.
“But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.” — 1 Corinthians 14:3
©2026 Katherine Walden
