Encouragement for This Season

Whew! It's been a season, hasn't it? COVID-19. Racial tensions. Death. Protests. Rioting. Looting. More COVID. Anxiety. Fear. Worry. Anger. It seems like life just won't let up! The Holy Spirit keeps reminding me that Jesus told us these times would come. "In this world you will have trouble," He said (John 16:33). But He followed by saying, "Take heart! I have overcome the world." It's been hard for me to take heart lately. Nothing in the world has lasting encouragement to offer. But the Word. The Word has something to offer.

Galatians 6:9

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

Philippians 3:20

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 4:7-12

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.  So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you."

2 Corinthians 4:17

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all."

Hebrews 12:1b-3

"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

May these words encourage your heart as they have mine. The world and its words are passing away, but the Word endures forever.