I Am Discouraged (September 2020)

People need encouragement. So many are discouraged by the Coronavirus, the economy, the violence in our nation, hurricanes, fires, family dismays, and the woes of society. We are called to encourage the discouraged. “But continually encourage one another every day, as long as it is called ‘Today’” … (Hebrews 3:13 Amp.). “…Encourage the timid [who lack spiritual courage], help the [spiritually] weak…” (1 Thes. 5:14). How do we do that? Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 3:2 in the Amplified Bible, “…and so we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in [spreading] the good news of Christ (declaring the Word), to strengthen and encourage you [exhorting, comforting, and establishing you] in regard to your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these difficulties [to which I have referred].” Paul was referring to the persecution that was taking place among the people of God. What encouraged them? …The Word. Church, the Promises of God will encourage the discouraged.

Maybe you are discouraged during this time. How can we encourage others if we are bound with discouragement? What does the word “discouraged” mean? “To be dismayed, disheartened, or frightened.” Discouragement may be caused from someone expressing disapproval of us; our falling short of our own expectations and/or the expectations of someone else; feeling intimidated; a sense of failure (either imagined or real); or hopelessness as we see, hear, or meditate something that attempts to paralyze us with the emotion of fear, anxiety, or worry. If we focus only on the events of evil that are transpiring in our world, we can quickly be bound by discouragement. We read in Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.” “My son, pay attention to my words (the Bible) and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh” (Prov. 4:20-22 Amp.)

I have some Scriptures that I would like to share with you. All you have to do is request them through email (charlotte@parkwest.org), through our website (www.bringingtolight.org) or by mail. Give to us your name and address. You may copy the Scriptures from our Facebook page. When you receive the Promises, please begin speaking them out loud; not once or twice, but over and over. Declare them in praise and thanksgiving. Shout them before the Lord. I promise on the authority of the Word, you will be encouraged. (to be continued next month).