When I listen to television news, I quickly conclude 2011 has been a brutal year. Not just here in the United States, but everywhere. Bad news attracts attention, but is depressing and discouraging. When I’m in the car, I listen to a Christian station called K-LOVE. Their news covers the positive things individuals and churches are doing to help people impacted by devastating events such as the tornado in Joplin, Missouri. This news brings balance to what I’m hearing on TV about the world I live in.
When I watch my IRA lose everything it gained over the last two years, or hear about suicide bombers killing dozens of people, or read about the devastating weather, I must remind myself that my faith and hope are in God, not in the stock market or men or the government. But if I only focus on the bad news, I lose sight of God’s promises for today and those yet to come.
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13, NLT). First Peter 1:3-6, the New Living Translation, tells me I can live with great expectation because a priceless inheritance awaits me in heaven. Yes, I have troubles to endure, but there is “a wonderful joy ahead of me.” God’s promises strengthen and encourage me when life is going wrong.
How about you? Do you have a particular Bible verse that encourages you when you are struggling? Please share it with us.
Debra L. Butterfield © 2011
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV) Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many that could apply, but for my current situation personally - in particular - this is great encouragment :) x
Thank you, this is a good one! Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the spiritual vision Elisha had that God shows us in 2 Kings 6:16-18.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly would help with abolishing fear if you could see the heavenly armies behind and around you!
ReplyDeleteOpen our eyes Lord!!!
It is certainly a journey of faith and growth to live strong. So many men and women of the Bible lived boldly for God. I fall so short.
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