María is a Christian woman who suddenly found herself abandoned by her husband. She said: “Like Job, I wanted to die at times. [Job 14:13] Yet I kept going, thanks to the encouragement I received. Two elders, whom I knew very well, spent many hours helping me to see the value of continuing in full-time service.

The elders who have given the reproof can be alert to give commendation when they see that the Scriptural counsel is being applied. Their words of encouragement will have a double benefit​—confirming their love for the erring one so that he does not become “overly sad” and reminding him of the benefits of applying the counsel.​—2 Corinthians 2:7, 8.

A certain elder made a serious mistake and lost his privilege of oversight in the congregation. “When the announcement was made about my removal as an elder, I thought that the brothers would feel uncomfortable in my company,” he says. “Nevertheless, the elders kept the reason strictly confidential and went out of their way to give me encouragement.