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.
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From the Inside Out 