To the one who knows the struggle but refuses to give in to discouragement:
You are not alone.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. ”
The enemy tempts us to be discouraged in life when things don’t seem to be working out the way we had hoped.
Discouragement leads to hopelessness—if we give up and give in to it.
When the weight of discouragement bears down on us, it’s time to run to God on our knees and tell Him all about it…
It’s there we ask WHY?
It’s there—in that place of prayer—the Holy Spirit ministers to our heart.
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Reading on…the verse reminds us to hope in God because He is “the health of our countenance.” Another way to describe the “health of our countenance” is the “wellness of our soul.”
Do you remember the hymn: It Is Well with My Soul? That hymn was written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. Spafford was facing the very spot where his daughters had tragically died at sea—but God flooded his soul with peace as he penned these words:
“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.”
Do you ever wonder
will your faith endure
no. matter. what?
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. ”
“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Knowing—that Jesus Himself prays for us—is why our hope remains INVINCIBLE.
This life is a journey of knowing Jesus more and more—it’s through the hardest times that we can draw closest to Him.
“But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. ”
“I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities; ”
Thankfully, we don’t have to give in to discouragement or lose hope! We can run to God on our knees and tell Him all about our troubles and receive comfort and strength as the Holy Spirit ministers to our heart!
We can rise with renewed strength and hope in God—secure in His love—with Jesus ever living to intercede on our behalf.
Are you facing circumstances in your life that are discouraging?
You are not alone. Let’s flee to Jesus for refuge and lay hold upon the hope set before us…
“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
