Discouragement

In this world we live in, it is easy to get discouraged even if you are a true born-again believer.  We face tribulations and trials every single day.  There are so many things we struggle with daily.  Even as Christians we can allow doubts to enter our minds.  Sometimes we can give into emotional highs or emotional lows, depending on what we are experiencing because of our thought life at the time or even what we have heard that has been used against us.  Don’t forget we have a powerful enemy and his purpose is to steal, kill and destroy, but we also have a much more powerful Savior and His plan is that we would have life and have it more abundantly.  Sometimes we are too hard on ourselves over somethings that we need to confess and repent of and move on, believing what the Word of God says.

Please read 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  

Now please read Psalms 103:5-18, “Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children, to such as keep His covenant, and to those who remember His commandments to do them.” 

If you’re doubting God’s love and forgiveness and compassion and grace this should help to encourage you.  And remember the story of the Prodigal Son in the book of Luke 15:11-32.  This prodigal Son took His father’s money and squandered it on wild living and spent all he had and ended up feeding pigs, which was a shameful thing for a Jewish person to do for they were unclean animals at the time.  Please read verses 17-24 in that same chapter, “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.”

The father in this story represents God and how compassionate and loving and gracious and forgiving He is.  So, if you think God has abandoned you, go to Him like the Prodigal Son did, then believe what His Word says in Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”       

I hope this will encourage you like it has me and be a help and a blessing also.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you all have a super day!!  And if this has been a help to you, give the Lord a shout of praise for He is worthy!!