Paramutheomai

What Does Paramutheomai Mean?

Paramutheomai (παραμυθέομαι) is a greek verb that means to relate near. It’s a word that depicts drawing near to another in order to provide comfort, consolation, or encouragement. It is used by the gospel writer to describe those who came to Mary and Martha to comfort them after the death of their brother Lazarus (John 11), and by the apostle Paul when he tells the church at Thessalonica to “encourage the disheartened” (1 Thess. 5:14, NIV). One source describes it beautifully as “comfort that stimulates faith, restores hope, and urges godly perseverance.” ¹

And that is exactly what this blog aims to do.

I started this blog in my early twenties, just over a year after the Lord brought me out of a dark season of hopelessness that nearly claimed my life. Throughout that season, the Lord used others – whether friends, family, authors, or musicians – to whisper hope into the darkness, eventually bringing me to the other side and changing my life forever. This blog was birthed out of a desire to help do the same for others.

If you’re feeling hopeless, this blog exists to draw near to you and whisper that same hope that saved my life.
If you’re feeling wearied by the weight of this world, this blog exists to encourage you to not give up.
If you’re feeling alone, this blog exists to come alongside you.
If you’re feeling far from God, this blog exists to remind you that He is never far from you.

Whoever you are, thank you for letting me come alongside you on the journey. I pray that you would leave here feeling the comfort and encouragement that only God can provide.

– Melanie