“For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?—the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless.” Psalm 18:31-32. (ESV)
Even as Christians, we are not exempt from experiencing days that leave us spiritually depleted and/or discouraged. When these days come, they will be tailor-made for us by none other than Satan himself. I Peter 5:8 tells us the following: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (ESV) Satan knows our weaknesses, and he aims to discourage and distract us in any way he can. He wants us to walk around focused on our feelings or circumstances rather than God’s mighty power. The enemy of our soul seeks to render us so spiritually ineffective that we cannot live an abundant life in Christ or share His Good News with others. But we do have a weapon that will always counteract his schemes!
When we find ourselves in the depths of discouragement, we have God’s Word to turn to for strength. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us: “but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (ESV) Psalm 46:10 is another great promise: “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (ESV) Philippians 4:13 assures us, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (ESV) I cannot tell you how many times I have held to this verse of Scripture in my lifetime. I don’t know where I would be had I not relied on these and the many other promises found in God’s Word. He will continually transform our faith and renew our strength as we learn more of what He has to say to us through the Scriptures.
I am very thankful that God’s Word and His never-ceasing care are the assurances we can carry into life’s uncertainties. Amidst the trials and storms of life and the days of discouragement, He is our strength. We declare that we serve an awesome God! He will be with us every step of the way. What we don’t see, He does! When we ponder what the future holds, we can rest knowing that He has it planned for our good and His glory.
Since God’s Word is timeless, and its’ message is as powerful today as it was in the beginning, He will always remain the source of our strength through our unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. Relying on God’s strength is the only way we will be successful in fending off times of discouragement. Even when those times come, they won’t last long because we have His ever-present help to move us forward in the right direction. Let us always look to Him for the necessary strength to make it through these difficult days in which we are living. May His Word be our anchor, our guide, and our source of strength today and always.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, You are the God who sees and knows our every thought and the weakness of our human frame. None of us are exempt from times of discouragement and weariness. But it is through Your mighty power, love, and mercy that You give us the needed strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Thank You for making a way for us to find peace and rest through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Help us not to grow discouraged in our walk of faith but to continually focus on who You are and who we are in You. We love You and praise You for all You have done for us and will do in the future. I pray these things in the Holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
