Be Encouraged

Oct 18

3 min read

As I am preparing this meditation, suddenly, there is a downpour of rain. Then, as if it came to speak specifically to me in a time of great need, I was given a most encouraging and hope-massaging word.

On this first day of a new week, I know that many of you are experiencing pressures and storms in your own lives, and the lives of family and friends. Yes, the week is brand new, but the problems, trials and tribulations are the same. You have prayed and prayed and continue to pray, yet many of your most heavy, crushing weights have not been lifted or eased. You are becoming weary and faint in hope, and feel as though you can’t make one move more. This word from the rain, brought to me by our Lord, in my time of desperate need, is what I offer you in your need.

Look and listen to the falling rain. It has all come from Creator God and He has not been in any way prejudiced, or selective about who and what the rain drenches, with its showers of blessing. In other words, it is island-wide rain and it blesses every single plant, wanted and unwanted; every single tree, tall and short; every single blade of grass, in a cultivated garden or an unkempt forest. The rain is God’s providential blessing upon all and to all.

In exact manner and with same Mind, God pours down blessings in copious showers on all of us, as well. Never doubt it! Our Sovereign Lord still blesses us with providential blessings. These general blessings, if you like, such as the rain and the sun, are given to us all, even when our faith and trust are at their lowest ebb and hope seems to be fading fast.

On this Lord’s Day Sunday, is your trust extremely fragile and feeble? Are you becoming more and more afraid, dismayed and discouraged, because you are frighteningly conscious of the poor condition of your trust and faith? You know all that our Lord has said about prayer. You believe Him too. But alas! You continue to be sorely tried and tested and all you can show at the moment is utter feebleness and helplessness.

Take hold of the wisdom given from the rain. May it be a truly encouraging and hope-massaging word in you. Providential blessings are for you also. The Lord will not disown you because of your frail, feeble, halting faith.

The Comforter, who is our God-sent, Compassionate Friend, will never be less than true in all He serves us. Romans 12: 8, gives believers an idea in how we are to serve others. He who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. No one can do this efficiently and successfully without the enabling Holy Spirit. He is not just our Enabler who is able, but He is our living, daily Example, because this is how He serves us.

Don’t be downhearted and discouraged about your present fading hope in some present trial. The Holy Spirit who exhorts, is doing so with exhortations, and giving to you liberally, as the falling rain upon the entire garden. Know that He leads you with diligence, and cheerfully shows you His mercy. No one serves us with such efficacy as God the Holy Spirit, even in our down times.