Encouragement

Have you ever watched a father teach his young child to walk for the first time? He will hold out his arms and call to the child, “Come darling. Come to Papa.” The tender voice and the strong arms encourage the child to trust and to do something it has never been able to do before. Something as hard as walking for the first time, can be made easy with a few words of encouragement.

God is like that parent. He wants to encourage you to walk with Him – and He wants us to encourage others to walk with Him also. Let’s open the Bible and read it for ourselves.

Does God care when I am afraid? It's in the Bible, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV).

Where does Jesus want me to go for encouragement? It's in the Bible, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30 NIV). Jesus wants us to talk to Him in prayer, telling Him about our happy times and our problems.

Does God care that my family is poor? The Bible says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3 NIV). God is preparing a mansion for you! It is worth waiting for!

Am I important to God? It's in the Bible, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Luke 12:7 NIV). God cares for the birds and you are much more important!

My father gives me gifts. Does God? The Bible says, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 NIV)

If I need something, what can God do? The Bible says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). God will supply your needs!

I worry about what I will eat. Does God care? It's in the Bible, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?’ (Matthew 6:25, 26 NIV)

My clothes! Is God really interested in my clothes? It's in the Bible, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30 NIV)

God wants to give you courage for every moment of your life. It's in the Bible, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV).