Soon-to-be-king David faced big trouble. Some of his own men, who had fought with him for years against enemy tribes and King Saul, were now talking of stoning him.
He and his troops had just returned from Gath to their base in Ziklag, and found their homes burned as well as their wives and children kidnapped by the Amalekites.
David and his men exhausted themselves with weeping (1 Samuel 30:1-5). But note the leader’s response to his anguish: “David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (v. 6). The King James Version says: “David encouraged himself.”
I can imagine him meditating on the worship songs he had written. Lines such as these may have played in his mind:
- “Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge” (16:1).
- “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer” (18:2a).
- “The Lord preserves those who are true to him” (31:23b).
We too can encourage ourselves when life’s pathways deteriorate into rough terrain. And the psalms are the perfect place to begin.
In addition, God has gifted writers through the ages since biblical times who supply wisdom and inspiration for his people. We’d do well to take note of their words also.
Following are a few encouragement-gems I’ve collected over the years. I pray they lift your spirit too.
1. Has your life-path become strewn with rocks?
“With God’s help the rocks can become stepping stones” (1).
Surely you’ve experienced the phenomenon: difficulties turned into perseverance, frustrations into patience, and temptations into self-control as we learned to rely upon God more consistently (2). And now when we look back on those rocks-become-stepping-stones, it’s with gratitude.
2. Do your days feel dull, repetitious, and ordinary?
God is the Manager on the stage of life, “in control of all the players. In the midst of what seems terribly ordinary, he is doing something extraordinary” (3).
Count on it. Our extraordinary God can do nothing less (4).
3. Are you discouraged because you haven’t already become the person you want to be?
A radio DJ recently said: God isn’t so much interested in who we are today; he’s looking at what we’re becoming.
And praise God, he doesn’t leave that becoming solely to us. He’s our loving, participatory Father always guiding us along (5).
4. Do the world’s problems seem insurmountable and your prayers insignificant?
On the contrary, our prayers matter very much. “Herbert Butterfield, the Oxford historian of modern history, is convinced that what Christians do in prayer is the most significant factor in the shaping of history—more significant than war and diplomacy, more significant than technology and art” (6).
Such an observation from a distinguished scholar inspires me to be more faithful in praying for our beleaguered country and other nations, to follow more intently Paul’s appeal to “pray without ceasing” (7).
5. Are you uncertain about your future and your ability to handle what’s ahead?
Remember: God does not equip us in advance. That would cancel the need for faith—a very important commodity to him. Instead God chooses to give us what we need when we need it (8).
* * * * * * * * * *
I praise you, O God! Your watchful eye is upon each of us, your listening ear bent to our prayers, your strong hand ready to support and guide, your unlimited intellect disposed to teach us truth. I praise you for your acts of power and your surpassing greatness!
(1 Peter 3:12; Isaiah 41:10; Proverbs 2:1-4; Psalm 150:2)
What encouraging word have you heard or read recently? Please share in the comment section below!
Notes:
- Barbara Johnson, Pack up Your Gloomies in a Great Big Box, Word Publishing (1993), 83.
- James 1:2-4; Psalm 37:7-9; 1 Corinthians 10:13
- Alice Mathews, A Woman God Can Use, Discovery House (1990), 77.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
- Philippians 2:13; Psalm 139:24b
- Eugene Peterson, Under the Predictable Plant, William B. Eerdmans (1992), 98.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:13
- Sarah Young, Jesus Calling, Integrity Publishers (2004) 123, and Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 6:34; Luke 12:31; Philippians 4:19.
Photo credits: http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.pikist.com; http://www.flickr.com; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.needpix.com; http://www.canva.com.
From the Inside Out 
Awesome post! Totally encouraging and just what I needed today!
As always, I praise God for his inspiration, allowing me to be part of what someone needs on any given day. Today it was you, Vickie!
You have really painted a soothing picture of protection in times of sufferings and struggles .A message of hope when despair prevails in the society. A message of life when death seems to be inevitable..Thanks a lot for sharing.🌹👍🙏
Thank you, Francis. I greatly appreciate your kind words!
Most welcome.🌹👍🙏
what an encouraging post. I love the word becoming. so much hope in that word, isn’t there?
Agreed: becoming is a delightful word–especially for us Christians as we grow to become more and more like our Savior!
I read a lot of encouraging and inspirational posts from some very talented writers. Your post is one of the most encouraging I have ever read. Thank you for sharing. Take care.
Thank you very much, Inspire Chief. I greatly appreciate your kind and encouraging words!
I appreciate this more than I can express. Especially #5 and the reminder that “God does not equip us in advance. That would cancel the need for faith—a very important commodity to him. Instead God chooses to give us what we need when we need it.” More than ever before I am focusing on eternity and what counts here on earth is to be sure that we are a witness, example, and source for others to find and accept Him as Savior.
Praise God for the way he surrounds us with encouragement, helping us to press on so we can be that witness, example, and source for others to meet Jesus!
Nancy,
Beautiful and uplifting post. Yes, God can turn rocks into stepping stones and He doesn’t give us grace in advance, but when we’re in the crucible. Thanks for a needed dose of encouragement!
Blessings,
Bev xx
So glad you found beauty and uplift here, Bev–just as I have found at your blog, Walking Well with God! Thank you for stopping by and taking time to comment.
Nancy, how did you know I needed this today? I was holding a Zoom Caregivers meeting and couldn’t figure out a particular way to do something, and became frustrated and reading your blog where you wrote, “”turn frustrations into patience” truly helped me to accept what is, and be patient and it will work out.
Trying to remember God will guide me and to rely on Him.
Praying for our country has never been more needed than now, thank you for reminding us.
I love God is my manager, He guides me, and to encourage myself (sometimes that is difficult), And, have faith and God will give me what I need when I need it. (love this).
Thanks for making my day brighter with your encouraging words.
God bless you. Laura
Thank you for YOUR encouragement, Laura! It’s a supreme delight to know this particular post made your day brighter, my friend! Praying the solution for your Zoom snafu becomes obvious and your Caregivers meeting proceeds as you’d hoped.
Thank you.
Nancy, thank you for these uplifting words in response to what so many of us are experiencing in one way or another.
God is in control, His Word has power in our lives.
Bless you.
God’s truth does refresh the spirit; I for one am in constant need. So glad you found this post uplifting, Linda!