Dave’s Monday Blast – December 16, 2024

I just love saying Merry Christmas; no Happy Holiday wishes out here where we live in Tennessee. As we creep ever closer to celebrating Christmas 2024 we all know individuals and families that are struggling with loss and find it difficult to rejoice in the Good News. For so many, Christmas is just a hard season to endure. As we discussed last week, the very best place to turn when we need encouragement and hope is the Word of God.

We receive a very clear picture of how much the Lord understands our pain and sorrow by examining the lives of others in the Word. For example in 2 Corinthians 1:8 & 9 we read: “For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raised the dead.”

In this moment of severe affliction we find Paul turning to the Word of God to find peace and solace. In 2 Corinthians 1:3 he writes: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of all mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” Since Paul was trained as a Pharisee you can bet he turned to Psalm 119:49 & 50: “Remember the word to thy servant, In which Thou hast made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, That Thy word has revived me.”

Of course the Psalms are an incredible resource for the children of God. Throughout the book we find David calling out to God; drawing near to the source of all comfort. In spite of the many places in the Word where we can find His assurances of love and care, why do we still not see it. We find ourselves struggling and sinking, and feel as if He has left us on our own. Perhaps the problem is that we are simply not availing ourselves of His means of encouragement.

INTENTIONAL men of God know that the following tools gleaned from In Touch Ministries is THE recipe for success.

1. Prayer: Our first response to pain or trouble should be to go to the Lord in prayer pouring out all of our questions and concerns to Him, our loving Father. God is always with us, wherever we go and whatever we’re doing. Our circumstances might make us feel otherwise, but if we find a moment to commune with God, we can be filled with His light, wisdom, love and peace.

2. Scripture: Secondly, in times of pain or trouble we can prayerfully go to God’s Word, asking the Holy Spirit to help us read and understand what’s in it. This is one of the primary ways that the Lord speaks to us and restores our hope. Reread the above referenced passage from Psalms 119:49 – 50.

As the Holy Spirit implants God’s Word into our heart and mind, our perspective will change. We will realize the truth of Paul’s words, that compared to the eternal weight of glory awaiting us, our trials on earth are but momentary (2 Corinthians 4:17). Our circumstances may not change, but our attitude will. Instead of focusing on our difficulties and pain, our eyes will be fixed on the Lord and His Word, and our trust in Him will grow.

3. Church:  God’s encouragement is also given to us through fellow believers. Christians are not supposed to live in isolation but as a community of believers who love and care for each other. When one person is struggling, the others come alongside to help. And as each of us draws near to God and receives His comfort, we are then enabled to encourage others with the same comfort we received (2 Corinthians 1:4).

I know…all this is easier said than done, but He is the Lord of encouragement. Do you see Him as such or does He seem more like a condemning judge to you? Sometimes we develop a lopsided perspective of God, which doesn’t include encouragement as one of His attributes. Talk to Him about it. Search His Word for affirmation. Surround yourself with the Church Body. Don’t isolate. Don’t blame. God is control and He is really smart!