Seeking Encouragement
Part 1: From God
By Kevin Morton
All of us get down from time to time. Things happen in this life which cause us pain. Things don't always go our way, and when they don't, we tend to become downhearted. As Christians, where do we go for encouragement in times of sorrow? Many people try to escape their problems by "bottling them up" and hiding them. Sometimes we go to a friend or family member to talk about our problems. I find myself doing both of these things now and then, but many times, I am still troubled afterward. Speaking with others usually helps, but what if there is something you are trying to deal with that you are embarrassed to talk about or that you know will cause someone else pain or to be offended? What if the people you talk to just can't make you feel better and there seems to be no one to turn to? Whenever we are faced with one of life's hardships, we can ALWAYS go to the Lord.
We need to realize that God deeply loves us and cares about us. He gave his only son to die for us! (John 3:16) He should be the FIRST one we go to in times of trouble. When I'm alone in my car I like to talk to God, tell him how life is going for me, and when I'm down or depressed, it always helps to talk to him about it. It is easier to talk to God than to anyone else because there is nothing that can be hidden from him. He sees and knows everything that goes on in our lives and will not be offended or upset about something we tell him. God knows us better than anyone else does, including ourselves. He understands exactly how we feel at any given moment in our lives, so if we ARE having a hard time with something, he is there to listen and to comfort us.
The other day, I was in my car and I was feeling a little down and lonely. I decided to turn off my radio and I just started talking to God, telling him my problems and asking him to help me. After I finished speaking to him, I felt amazingly better and even a little stronger spiritually. God showed me, as he had so many times before, that he could help me with my problems. As Brother Bill Hensley said in one of his sermons, "A talk with God can turn the tide." God can turn a person's attitude from depressed to joyful in a matter of minutes. In Psalms
10:17, David sings to the Lord, "You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted, you encourage them and you listen to their cry." The Lord encouraged me by simply listening to my prayer.
God gives encouragement to anyone who asks for it if only they follow him and live by his word (Matt. 21:22, Romans 15:5, John 15:7). As Christians, we can go to him in prayer with any of our requests or concerns and he will hear us (Eph. 6:18). In the last moments before he was taken away to be crucified, Christ himself prayed to God earnestly in the Garden of Gethsemane. He said in Matt. 26:38, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death." In verse 39, he prayed to God, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." After praying to God about this three times, Christ was strengthened. In verse 46 he says, "Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer." He was ready to carry out God's plan and give his
life on the cross. He was no longer afraid to face death. If God can give Christ the strength to overcome death, don't you think he can give us the strength to overcome our hardships as well?
Remember, we can always go to the Lord for encouragement, for as his children, "God has given us eternal encouragement" (2nd Thes. 2:16). We need not fear or be weakened by anything in this life, because God is on our side and is always watching over us and protecting us. I have a sign on my bedroom wall, which reads simply, "Why worry when you can pray?"
I hope that these words have strengthened all of you, thank you for your attentiveness. I invite any questions or comments on this subject. Look for "Seeking Encouragement, Part 2: From the Brethren" in a future issue of FOOY.
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