An Encouragement for You All!

In the past few days I have encountered a number of my friends and family who are feeling a bit beaten down.  We've all been there. Those days when we just feel like we can't do anymore, when we feel we can't take anymore, when we'd rather pull the drapes and hide from the world.  Sometimes life tends to get the best of us.  No matter if you are struggling with a health crisis that won't quit, a to -do list that is starting to overwhelm and consume you, the pressures of daily demands, the stress at a job or finding a job, and the biggie --- when you've been dealt a situation that is the complete opposite of what you'd hoped for....all these scenarios have the potential to drag us down, depress us and defeat us. 
If you find that this describes you today....let me offer you some encouraging words.  (If you're on cloud 9 right now....tuck these words away for when your rainy day comes....because it will come.)

Last night I was reading some passages from the Bible in order to find one that would encourage a little sister in Christ (I mean that she is young, not small in size! hahaha)  Anyway, I couldn't get away from the verse found in 1 Chronicles 28:20

"David also said to Solomon, his son, Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord God, my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the Lord is finished."

In this context we find that David is getting on in years.  He knows that the responsibility of building the amazing temple will fall on Solomon.  David encourages him to not be afraid, but get to work.  As David tells Solomon to not be afraid, he doesn't mean afraid as in scared.  David is encouraging Solomon to not worry or stress about this project because God is going to be with him and help him, in this specific task, until it is finished.  For us the same promise holds true.  No matter what we might be facing, God doesn't forsake us.  How can I be confident in this?  Well, the scriptures tell us on a number of occasions that God doesn't forget about us, and the same God who was with Solomon as he built the temple, is the same God who is with you, today, in the middle of your challenge.

I love how David emphasizes, "my God".  He tells Solomon that it is "my God" that is going to be with you.  That doesn't mean Solomon didn't know God. The point David is trying to make is that the same God who saw David through his personal challenges is the same God who is with Solomon.  David is trying to remind Solomon of the things God had done for him and assure Solomon that if God did it for David, He would do it for Solomon.  And guess what.....He'll do it for you too!

In the past week or so, I have also had Nehemiah 4:14 on my mind. 

"....Do not be afraid of them.  Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your houses."

Here Nehemiah is trying to encourage the Israelites who are back home from being in captivity and are working on the daunting task of rebuilding the wall around the city of Jerusalem.  The people are beginning to feel overwhelmed by the task and beaten down by the ridicule-ers and mockers who taunt them daily.  Nehemiah tells them to not give up and to remember how great and awesome God is.  His message is much like David's......think back on the amazing things God has done for you in the past.  Nehemiah then tells them to fight.  This is a powerful motivator.....and should serve as a motivator for us when we don't want to go on.
Nehemiah tells the people to fight  - to fight for their brethren, or fellow Israelites.  We must push on and "fight" if you will, so that in our struggle, and ultimately our success, we will encourage our fellow believers.  Aren't we encouraged when we read about those champions in the Bible?  We can look at their circumstances and situations and see how God worked and how they pushed through.  What an encouragement for us.  Our choice to fight can be the same encouragement for our "brethren". 
Nehemiah tells the people to fight for their sons, daughters, wives and their houses.  He knew that the Israelites were literally building a new life for themselves and their families.  So Nehemiah was encouraging them to fight for the right to have a life there in Jerusalem.  He wanted the families to have a life and to have roots in the city that was supposed to be for them.  That was their history, their home.  For us, we should look at our families, our children, our nieces, nephews, god-children, little ones in our church and others as a reason to keep fighting the good fight.  These up and coming leaders need strong Christian believers to look up to.  They need for us to leave a legacy, give them a history and a foundation.  Push through the challenge you are facing so that your example can be a beacon of hope for the future generations.

Let me leave you with some other encouraging verses.  I hope one of them speaks to your heart and offers you some encouragement for today.

2 Chronicles 32:7&8 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid nor dismayed....with him is an army of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles."

2 Chronicles 30:9 :...for the Lord God is gracious and merciful and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him."

2 Chronicles 20: 12, 15, 17  "For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.   ....do not fear or be dismayed, for the battle is not yours, but Gods.   .....You will not need to fight.  Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you."