Discouragement

We live in a broken world in need of healing. Sometimes restoration is necessary between two people whose friendship has been damaged, or from a dating relationship where infatuation turned to disillusionment turned to rejection, or a husband and wife whose relationship has fallen on hard times. Sometimes, we need emotional healing when a hurt drives us to discouragement, even despair. Today, let me introduce you to Yahweh Rapha.

What do you do when you can’t pray? When the words won’t come. When your soul is exhausted. The great missionary J. Hudson Taylor came to that point. When anxiety filled his heart, he said, “I can’t read. I can’t think. I can’t pray. But I can trust.” We can all trust and know that the Holy Spirit is praying for us at a level we cannot comprehend.

The pain we endure in life hurts. Sometimes, our journey takes us through times of devastation and discouragement. The loss of a job, illness, relationship breakups, an unrealized dream, and death are just some of the adversities that can bring about “sufferings of this present time.”

What if you could experience spiritual freedom? Freedom from fear. Freedom from anxiety. Freedom from discouragement. Freedom from a heart that is never content.

Followers of Jesus are not immune to disappointment, discouragement, or fear. Unanswered questions rattle around in our minds. There are challenges, for sure, but we know that every believer is empowered by the Spirit.

There is a direct correlation between where we live and how we live. The things that occupy our minds and drive our hearts will determine the state of our being. If we live in the land of fear, we will live with insecurity. If we live in the land of doubt, we will experience continual discouragement. Living in the land of brokenness will lead to a second-shelf Christian life and provide excuses for our sin. But when we hang out under the shelter of the Most High…our situation changes.

When the night is the darkest; when discouragement hangs over your soul like a thick fog; when getting out of bed becomes the hardest part of your day; when your lips can’t smile; when the smallest chore takes all the energy you have, the Spirit is there praying for you at a depth beyond human words.

When we set our hearts on seeing Jesus, nothing will hold us back.

We can always celebrate his work in our lives.