Technology has not been my friend this week. The post I spent awhile working on did not save properly and was lost. It had taken me long enough to come up with the idea to write that post, and then it was gone. And absolutely, I was feeling terribly discouraged at that point.
What better way to fight back when facing discouragement than go back to what encourages me and remember where my roots are planted?
I have this little deck of cards I carry in my bag where I write down verses that are important, meaningful, or turning points for me:
I have a number of cards yet to fill, but the first six are bright yellow and have been some of the verses that I’ve carried with me the longest and are the ones I reference the most.
If you’re also in a place where you’re feeling discouraged today, then let me share some of the top verses I turn to when I’m feeling discouraged.
Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9
The farmers in my area are already in the fields harvesting. The beginning of September is still hot here, but it is still time for the crops to be harvested for the coming winter.
Seen or unseen, the good work we do every day from the little things to the big things are all part of the harvest we will reap one day. Like the farmers faithfully attending their crops, we too must continually be faithful in tending the crops in our lives, even when the going gets hard.
Be still and know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10
This invitation is everything. I read somewhere that the Hebrew for “be still” really means to “let go”. In moments of deep discouragement, I find myself hanging on hard and fighting to make the thing work. What God really desires for us in those moments is actually the opposite–to let go. Let go of striving. Let go of control. We are not the makers of the universe. We did not speak a word and light appeared (Genesis 1:3). He did. And He is in control of everything from that moment til the very end.
So let go. Breathe in, and breathe out. Clench your fists and then open your hands and release. He is in control. Know that He is God.
…being confident of this that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6
Whenever I doubt my calling, my purpose, my abilities, any of those things, I come back to this verse. It doesn’t suggest “IF God begins a good work in you, He will carry it completion.” No, it says “He began a good work in you.” It’s already there. He has set it in motion, in the life of every believer.
This is why I write this blog to explore this idea of Everyday Ministry. Every Christian has a purpose and a mission that is set in motion when they accept Jesus as their Savior. Every day in our lives is another day in ministry. He began the work, and He is overseeing it and WILL carry it to completion. He will finish the work. We can rest in that and continue with confidence.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Romans 8:28
God has a plan for your life and for mine. He set the universe in motion and He is in charge. And because Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins, He is working everything that happens for our good.
This is not to say that the horrific things that happen to you should be celebrated. But He is the God that can bring beauty from ashes (Isaiah 61:3) and the end plan for your life is good: that you spend eternity in heaven with Him. So even in the ups and downs, He is working behind the scenes for your good.
And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
This verse is not only encouraging to me, the knowledge that God will meet my needs, but it is also a sword in my prayer arsenal, that I speak over people as I pray for them in their times of need.
God loves us. He does not abandon us to chance in the world. The answers may not come in the form that we think they should take, but He is still going to meet our needs and provide. He is Jehovah Jireh–the Provider.
Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
These verses have carried me through more hard times than I can count. I battled the last crescendo of anxiety I encountered with these verses, actually all of Philippians 4:4-8. The more I repeated these verses, the more peace came into my life and I was finally freed from the anxiety that was crippling me.
God desires that we have freedom in Him. The world is full of struggles, and it’s easy to worry. But He doesn’t want us to be crippled by our cares and worries. We can take anything and everything to Him–nothing is too big for Him to handle or too small that He doesn’t care. He desires that all of us experience His peace.
I hope that these verses brought to mind some peace, some calm in the midst of chaos, and maybe even your own memories of times they spoke to you.
God is still speaking to us, every day–through verses you’ve never encountered and ones you know by heart. The Bible is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and God speaks through it all the time.
If you’re discouraged, take a moment and lean into your old favorite passages, for they definitely contain the hope you need to take your next step.
Blessings,
Lynne
Leave a Reply