Be Strong

Joshua 1:5-6  As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous…

            Today’s message is short and simple. Even on our loneliest days, we are never truly alone. Our Heavenly Father knows where we are; he knows the circumstances surrounding us; he knows our troubled thoughts; and he knows our most discouraging feelings. He is with us every step of the way—always as near as our next whispered prayer.

            There is another passage that combines well with this thought:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

            It is our Heavenly Father who comforts us in all our troubles. Most of us know from personal experience what it is to find encouragement from God’s Word and what it is to have peace in our heart during trying circumstances. The storms of life are not removed from us but in God we find daily strength to move through those storms.

            In a closer look at this text, I think we see a Christian responsibility to extend that comfort to others. We live in a world surrounded by those who do not have this same level of comfort and peace in their lives. For whatever reason, their world is full of discouragement and loneliness from which there seems to be no relief. Furthermore we know that this can ultimately lead to a deeper sense of despair and hopelessness. Perhaps that is where we fit into the call of Christian living—to offer hope and comfort to those in need.

            Here are some ideas:

·       sit quietly with a friend

·       make that phone call you’ve been intending to make

·       write that email, text, card or letter you’ve been intending to send

·       pray deeply for one another

·       offer that word of encouragement and hope

·       share your favorite Bible verse

·       call a friend to meet you for coffee

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for always being there to comfort us during difficult seasons of life. Thank you for the opportunities you give us to share hope and comfort with others. Forgive us when we hesitate or ignore those opportunities and give us the sense of responsibility to respond.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Be Strong appeared first on Write From My Heart  at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com