courage

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Don’t Despair

Discouragement has set in. I have so much to be thankful for, but there are situations that are long term heartaches. One after another, they sap energy and joy. God reminds me daily that He is with me and I will see good even yet.

Psalm 27:13-14 reminds me…”I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.”

My fallback prayer is…”Show me something good, I need to see something good.”

Days like this I wish I could talk to my Dad.

He grew up during the depression and served in WW II. He would be a wealth of encouragement. My memory of him was laughter and joy, but I know there were periods of deep sadness in his life as well. Sadness he never talked about or dwelt on. Day by day he was faithful to his faithful God. Day by day he got strength and joy from the God who is full of lovingkindness.

While cleaning out some drawers I ran across an old cassette tape with my Dad’s writing on it.  Finding a cassette player that worked was another challenge. I finally was able to hook up the tape deck to our stereo system. The first song I heard was him playing the violin. The song? “Jesus Took My Burden”. The words came back to me as I listened. Here are the words to the chorus.

Yes, Jesus took my burden I could no longer bear,

Yes, Jesus took my burden in answer to my prayer;

My anxious fears subsided. My spirit was made strong.

For Jesus took my burden, and left me with a song.

My Dad died almost 34 years ago and yet here God was using him to encourage me today. Yes, God was again showing me something good, something very good. The example of a man who lived his life faithfully through good and bad, because He trusted His good God to be with him through it all.

So don’t despair. Life is hard. Troubles will come and go. Sometimes troubles will come to stay, but Jesus takes our burdens and gives us joy in the midst. The blessing of daily being able to lean on His strong arms is priceless.

“For I am the Lord your God, who upholds your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear I will help you’.   Isaiah 41:13

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Never Alone

I have been blessed over the last weeks to have many people praying for me. I am grateful for those prayers and for those who helped in many other ways.

I also think back to the nights in the hospital and even the times I woke up in the middle of the night once I was home. Those were times of being reminded by God of his tender care of me. The verses he would bring to my mind or the fragment of a hymn.

“Jesus the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrow cease. ‘Tis music in the sinners ears. ‘Tis life and health and peace.”

Our world is in trouble right now. It is more than a physical sickness. It is a spiritual darkness that envelops many. We think especially of our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, but there are many people hurting in many locations like Afghanistan and China. It seems hopeless, but we have a God who sees and hears. He still comforts those in trouble. He is at work even in the darkness. Our hope lies not in governments or leaders, but in the God who patiently waits for men to turn to Him. My prayer is that the current trouble causes such a turning.

My granddaughter, Arianna and I recorded this a couple of years ago. It was written by Emma and Stuart Townend. “I Am Here for You”.

For further study:

Deuteronomy 3:22 – “Do not fear them, for the LORD your God is the one fighting for you.”

Isaiah 31:1 – “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many, And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!”

Isaiah 41:10, 13b – “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” “…Do not fear, I will help you.”

Jeremiah 31:3 – “…I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

Matthew 28:20b – “lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

John 16:33b – “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I John 4:10 – “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.”