Encouragement in Believing
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“I needed to hear that”, Kelly said with a catch in her voice. The layoff notice had come as a complete surprise. Anger and panic had welled up within her.
Sue had listened to her vent. Then she had spoken quietly and gently reminded Kelly that God knew of this turn of events. He would direct her through the unknown path. He could be counted on to guide her. He would give her wisdom. Kelly’s heart was comforted and strengthened. She was encouraged to go on and her heart softened at the reminder of God’s care.
God’s Word alerts us that in difficult times our hearts can go astray. They can become hardened and turn away from God.
We all know that wondering of “Where is God?” when something significant does not go as we had hoped or planned and life seems to tumble around us.
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We live in a world that acknowledges God less and less. Often the choices of others affect us in hard ways. Politics at work, relationships with those we care about, finances, even health issues. We can feel alone and our faith can feel slippery as we walk.
When clouds gather in our lives we can begin to allow unbelief into our hearts. It’s very subtle and slips in. We pray less and our Bible sits unopened more. When we don’t understand God, unbelief creeps in. It can harden our hearts to the point where we tune out God even when He speaks to us. We can find rebellion creeping up on us if we are not monitoring our hearts. Listen to God’s words to us…
“See to it brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” (Hebrews 3:13).
God knows the tendency of our hearts toward unbelief. That’s why He counsels us in these matters. We need to be aware of keeping our hearts soft. God’s call to “Encourage one another daily…” helps build a reservoir within our own hearts … it helps keep our hearts soft.
It is easy to be deceived into thinking God doesn’t have our best interest at heart, especially when things don’t go well. We need to guard our hearts against unbelief and rebellion and know that, in those tough places, He is there to guide us through and teach us.
When you feel unbelief slipping into your soul and find rebellion nibbling around the edges of your heart, seek out spiritual encouragement. Walk and talk with a friend and be honest in sharing your need of prayer. Do a Bible study on a topic that grabs at your heart. Choose to spend some time with God and cry out to him from the depths of your soul telling Him all the things in your heart. Choose to turn toward Him. God will encourage you even when people aren’t there to. Choose to draw near to Him and ask Him to help your unbelief.
When we receive encouragement in our soul from God, we are then in a position to give encouragement. You cannot offer something you don’t possess.
Then, when you hear despair in the lives of those around you or in the emails of those writing to you, you will be equipped to encourage them with words from Scripture, or a gentle reminder of God’s everlasting love even when the road ahead is obscured.
It’s an amazing circle. Daily speaking of God’s care will not only encourage others and bring comfort, strength and hope…it will also encourage you and help keep your own heart soft and your faith strong.
It’s an amazing circle…”He who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” ( Proverbs 11:25).
Pay attention to God’s warning against unbelief. Our faith in Jesus is our most valued treasure. If you loose it there is nothing of true value left. Guard against an unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. Turn to Him and ask Him to speak to you. Watch for those whose hearts are turning away and ask God to give you encouragement to share. It will build you up as you do.
Father God, I know the tendency of my own heart to grow hard around the edges with unbelief and even rebellion at times. I choose to draw near to You and ask that You would encourage my heart and help my unbelief. I need You to refresh my inner being and give me strength. Encourage me through Your Word. Give me a greater desire to read it and to pour my heart out to you. Give me people in my life who will share with me the encouragement they receive from You. Help me to encourage others whose hearts are growing hard in difficult times. Daily be my source in everything I pray, in the name of Jesus, amen.
Questions: How do you become aware of unbelief slipping into your life and rebellion starting to take root? How can you be ever ready to help those that are in despair around you?
About the Author Gail Rodgers
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, The Risk of Obeying God, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Tags: comforted, encourage, encouragement, finances, gail rodgers, hope, listened, strength, strengthened, unbelief, wisdom
6 Responses to “Encouragement in Believing”
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Gail, thank you for the devotional. it was most comforting and seeing the responses here made me realize that I am not alone. I too, need a jolt of encouragement and I believe I just received it.
thank you
Thank you for this wonderful reminder and encouragement. I’ve been walking through some difficult times and I’ve noticed that my faith did begin to faulter. I noticed how dangerious this was becomming over easter. My friends and family were praising the Lord for what He had given us, and I found my soul feeling a bit dead and hard. I’ve never felt that before and it scared me. It was a wake up call that I needed to return to Christ and allow Him to bring healing and comfort. God is good. Even in the midst of our greatest losses. He is always good, and it is great to be reminded of that. Thank you for this message. I can hear Him constantly reminding me to stay connected with Him, and to find strength and renewing in Him. He will bring me through this.
Lord, I just want to sing you praises. You have blessed our family with gainful employment again for my husband. As time began to slip away and my husband still had no job, sometimes my faith did falter. I became very anxious and had moments where I was wondering where are you God. But then I remembered who you are and how you have been so good to me and my family. I submitted everything to you Lord and to stay focused on what this experience was meant to teach our family. We have learned so much about not taking anything for granted and too be so much for thankful for what we do have and not so concerned with acquiring things. Lord I thank you so much for my husband’s new job. I am thankful that you were with us the whole time we were going through this difficult time. I could feel your presence, especially in the prayers of those around us. I want to thank all who have been praying for us on this blog. We could feel your prayers and they meant so much to us.
GOD is good all the time. All the time, GOD is good.
Lord God of Heaven and Earth,
Thank you for the encouragement You alone can bring to our hearts. Bless Donna today with a taste of that fresh honey! Thank you that You are sufficient. Strengthen her today by this word of her testimony and encase her in Your presence. We praise Your name and rely upon Your steadfast Spirit to guide us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thanks for sharing, Donna! You have blessed my heart this morning with your openness to share with us.
Warmly,
Gail
Such an encouraging devotional today. I have found that I am slipping away, becoming hard hearted and unbelieving. Lord, please help me through this refining. Once again I come and ask for your Spirit to reveal itself. Forgive me for not coming to you sooner and falling into old habits and sin. I have tasted your honey and there is nothing like it in all the world. I thank you that Your grace is sufficient. I love you Jesus and trust in you.