Encouraging Scripture #1: Micah 7:8
Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD will be a light to me.
The temptation to give up and give when trials and troubles multiple is strong. The victimhood mentality promoted by our culture strengthens the temptation. We may feel conquered, but that’s just an illusion. The Lord hears us, and He will defend us and lead us into the light. The encouraging message of Micah 7:8 is “get up, get moving, and God will deliver you.”
Encouraging Scripture #2: Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Paul composed the letter to the Roman churches during the 50’s. Christians faced increasing pressure. Surviving these trials with your faith intact required, among other things, a proper perspective. Hope delivers us through the most challenging trials. No matter how bad things may go for us, we can be confident that the glories of heaven will be far greater than our trials at present.
Encouraging Scripture #3: Colossians 3:2-3
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
It seems the farther along I go in life, the number of distractions increase. We have more time on our hands than our forefathers. But, unfortunately, we find more ways to spend time in increasingly unproductive ways.
If we are not careful, we can end up spending vast swaths of our time focusing on the things of the earth. Consequently, too many of us are concerned with the things of the earth that matter very little in the ledgers of eternity. What Colossians 3:2-3 teaches is even though I’m here on earth, my life is safe with Jesus no matter what happens. So I should pull my mind away from what is happening around me and focus on eternity. No matter what happens below, my life is safe in Jesus Christ.
Encouraging Scripture #4: Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
As I have noted on various occasions in the past, what people expect from God — and who they expect Him to be — can be different from who He is. God only responds to our prayers if we ask according to His will.
1 John 5:14-15, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. [15] And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
When we manage to align our desires with God’s will for us, the potential that lies in the promise of Jesus in Matthew 7:7-8 is staggering. When God’s will is my will and I earnestly, faithfully petition Him, He promises to respond.
