Where To Be Encouraged?

Why do we have to go through trials? So many times I wish life was easy. So many times I have cried out to God, “Please Lord, help me!”

For the past few years I have suffered a major car accident that totaled our car, but I walked away from. I’ve suffered through rejection after rejection, trying to get a job. I’m not going to lie to you, it stung every time. But throughout the experience, it drew me closer to God, closer to His word. When I opened Scripture, I saw the real God and not the fake god the enemy was lying to me about. I found several scriptures that I read over and over again. They brought me peace and encouragement.

God doesn’t take away our pain. But He does give us encouragement through it. His word it that place of encouragement.

“Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him,” Isaiah 30:18

Read that verse several times, “…the Lord longs to be gracious to you…” He longs to be. He doesn’t happen to be. Or sometimes, He longs to be gracious to me, to you. I’ve read that verse over and over again.

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues Him. O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Psalms 34:4-8.

“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.” Psalm 34:14

“The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:17-19

“casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.” Psalm 55:22

Scripture is meant to nourish our soul. It not only exhorts us, but it is meant to encourage. There are so many more scriptures that will encourage the believer. And there is a season for everything. If you are walking through the valley, you don’t have to read the scriptures that exhort. Find the scriptures that encourage. There will be another time, another season to read other scripture. But if you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death, grab onto the scriptures that lift you up. I promise, believer, it will bring you encouragement. They’re meant to.