The challenge to “encourage one another and build up one another” was given to Christians in the form of a command (1 Thess. 5:11).  Encouragement stabilizes the soul to overcome the fear that accompanies each day of life.  The apostle Paul experienced fear and the Lord warned him “not to fear.”   The Lord knew Paul’s heart so the Lord removed Paul’s fear with the injunction, “stop being afraid.”  Fear implies doubt, diminishes faith, and robs the mind of its rational ability.  Fear immobilizes courage.  Sin is the father of fear.  Paul was a sinner as all Christians are sinners, so the Lord gave sinful believers a promise.  The Lord said, “I am with you.”  The Lord said to Issac, “I will be with you” (Genesis 26:3).  The Lord said to Joshua, “as I was with Moses, so I will be with you” (Joshua 1:5).  Some of the last words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ are “lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).  Courage is easy to give.  It may be a brief conversation or providing a service that would remove the fear.  Find someone to encourage today!