Choosing Not to Harden My Heart
by Nicole McLernon
“Boldly, I approach your throne / Blameless now I’m running home…”
I sang the words along with everyone else at the Rend Collective concert. It’s one of my favorite worship songs because it calls us, it calls me, to run to my Father because of His great love for me, to run home because the Cross has purchased my salvation.
But as I sang, my mind raced with thoughts I’m not used to having. “Do you really want to run to Him? Why aren’t you excited about this? You used to love this notion of being home with God. And now you’re unsure if you even want Him at all.”
And I realized that my heart, usually so full of love and emotion, had become so shrouded in cynicism that I was having a hard time feeling anything. (read more)
Overcoming Discouragement
by Charles Stanley
Discouragement is a common response to the challenges of life. Even David, who experienced great spiritual triumphs, had some powerful emotional struggles. In Psalm 42:11, he wrote: “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him.” His reaction must have been similar after Ziklag, his home at the time, was destroyed. David was able to find victory in that situation in part because he knew how to overcome discouragement. (read more)
Find Encouragement . . .
Are you struggling with feelings of hopelessness? Have you started to wonder if you’ll ever meet that special someone? Or maybe you’ve started wondering if they’re even out there to meet at all?
Don’t be discouraged! God knows the desires of your heart, and wants the very best for you. He is the only One who knows what is truly best. God’s timing is very different from our own, and “waiting on the Lord” is a strong theme throughout the Bible. Those waiting times can be some of our deepest, most meaningful times of fellowship with God. Jesus tells us to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” and to not be anxious.
Take advantage of this waiting time to get to know and trust God. A.W. Tozer, in his book The Pursuit of God says that “God is so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful that He can, without anything other than Himself, meet and overflow the deepest demands of our total nature, mysterious and deep as that nature is.” Have you experienced that yet? If not, I urge you to get to know Him better!
Be encouraged by the verses listed below and trust that God hasn’t forgotten you! He’s right here with you–listening to you, loving you desiring a close relationship with you. Lean on His word and His understanding in times of seeming hopelessness and He will provide you with the love, strength, and encouragement you need.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior. (Psalm 42:5, NIV)
Hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. (Psalm 130:7, NLT2)
Endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. (Romans 5:4-5, NLT2)
Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD. (Psalm 31:24, NAS95)
You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:114, NIV)
Sustain me according to your promise, and I shall live; do not let my hopes be dashed. (Psalm 119:116, NIV)
But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. (Psalm 33:18, NIV)
Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone. (Psalm 33:22, NLT2)
Put your hope in the LORD both now and for evermore. (Psalm 131:3, NIV)
Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled. (Romans 15:4, NLT2)
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in You. (Psalm 39:7, NLT2)
O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O LORD, from childhood. (Psalm 71:5, NLT2)
I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope. (Psalm 130:5, NIV)
Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. (Romans 12:12, NLT2)
