Discouragement Beater
12/11/06 21:22
Friday –November 10, 2006, 4:30pm: I begin my
yard work of cleaning gutters and raking leaves
before the rain came. I completed my work and was
satisfied. Saturday morning the winds brought so many
leaves into my yard that it looked as though I
hadn’t raked in years!
Saturday –November 11, 2006, 1:20pm: I get a call from Andrew Mullins. He is at the church and discovers the basement is under an inch of water. 2:20pm: I go to the church and realize that the boiler is the cause and not only is the church under water but the problem is the furnace and that means no heat!
Saturday –November 11, 2006, 4:15pm: Sunday School is cancelled. But Jesus is in my heart. and Jesus is at my side. and His Word speaks encouragement to my soul!
There is only one thing that defeats discouragement in this day and age –that’s Jesus! He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled…” Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in all things be thankful…” Peter tells us to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. Now, you may be thinking that leaves in the yard and water in the basement are little things compared to what you may be going through. A long time illness can be very discouraging, a sudden loss of a loved one is discouraging, a broken relationship is discouraging, loss of income is discouraging; and these are real problems. True these problems of mine are very insignificant compared to some of the trials some of you are going through, but I have only two things to say to you about that. First, God, who is the God of the mountain, is also the God of the valley. Trials may be big or small to us, but to God they are the same. God can just as easily heal cancer as to bring home a lost pet puppy. He can restore a relationship just as easily as He can help a football player kick a field goal. To God all trials are the same –He cares for what you are going through just as he cares for what someone else is going through. He won’t neglect you while caring for others. Secondly, God allows us to go through very small and seemingly insignificant problems to teach us that He can bring us through them. Then, when we go through the small ones with Him we can know that He will be with us in the big ones. God who is faithful will never leave us nor forsake us. And when God is with us we can… do all things. Remember saints: we are saved by hope and hope does not disappoint!
Saturday –November 11, 2006, 1:20pm: I get a call from Andrew Mullins. He is at the church and discovers the basement is under an inch of water. 2:20pm: I go to the church and realize that the boiler is the cause and not only is the church under water but the problem is the furnace and that means no heat!
Saturday –November 11, 2006, 4:15pm: Sunday School is cancelled. But Jesus is in my heart. and Jesus is at my side. and His Word speaks encouragement to my soul!
There is only one thing that defeats discouragement in this day and age –that’s Jesus! He said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled…” Paul said, “Be anxious for nothing, but in all things be thankful…” Peter tells us to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. Now, you may be thinking that leaves in the yard and water in the basement are little things compared to what you may be going through. A long time illness can be very discouraging, a sudden loss of a loved one is discouraging, a broken relationship is discouraging, loss of income is discouraging; and these are real problems. True these problems of mine are very insignificant compared to some of the trials some of you are going through, but I have only two things to say to you about that. First, God, who is the God of the mountain, is also the God of the valley. Trials may be big or small to us, but to God they are the same. God can just as easily heal cancer as to bring home a lost pet puppy. He can restore a relationship just as easily as He can help a football player kick a field goal. To God all trials are the same –He cares for what you are going through just as he cares for what someone else is going through. He won’t neglect you while caring for others. Secondly, God allows us to go through very small and seemingly insignificant problems to teach us that He can bring us through them. Then, when we go through the small ones with Him we can know that He will be with us in the big ones. God who is faithful will never leave us nor forsake us. And when God is with us we can… do all things. Remember saints: we are saved by hope and hope does not disappoint!
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