The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Encourage one another and help one another” (GNT). God wants you to use your own experiences to build up, motivate, and inspire other people. How do you do that? You can do it three ways: You can give people hope, you can help people overcome their fears, and you can help people break through barriers.

First, you can give people hope. Your experiences show other people that they, too, can get through the same experiences. Through your story, you give other people hope.

When you share your experiences with other people, you help them overcome their fears. It’s like riding a roller coaster. When you’re waiting in line for a huge roller coaster, you think, “Is this a smart decision?” Then the person in front of you turns around and says, “This is a great ride. I’ve been on it five times.” So you think, “Okay, I’m going to live. He’s done it five times. It’s got to be okay.” Hearing from someone who’s already gone through it is an inspiration. It’s motivational.

How many first-time parents feel scared to death, unprepared, and inadequate? All of them! How grateful they are for somebody who comes along and says, “Babies cry. It’s okay. This is normal.” The fears that they’re experiencing don’t seem so daunting when others share with them their experiences and how they came through them. It gives them hope!

You also help people break through barriers when you motivate them with your own experience. In 1954, Roger Bannister was the first man to run a four-minute mile. Before he did it, everybody said it was impossible—no one could run that fast. Yet within a year or so after Bannister broke that barrier, a dozen other guys also had passed the four-minute mark. All of a sudden, people realized it wasn’t impossible, and it gave them hope that they could do it too.

You have experiences in your life that could be barrier-busting, inspirational, and motivational to other people—but only if you’re willing to share them. This is one way you can encourage others and give them hope.