Romans 1:11-12
"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith."
We all need a little bit of courage. And that's what friends are for.
God has put stuff in you that will give strength to others. It's not about you. Don't be selfish. Don't hide your faith.
Why? Because God's calling on every person's life is so much bigger than we can understand. When we encourage, we become a part of people's stories, of history and, most importantly, of His Story.