The Lord Our Encourager...

"But David found strength in the Lord his God."

1 Samuel 30:6 NIV

It can be a lonely experience living with a chronic illness and pain every day. We relinquish many things and relationships. And at times we are misunderstood for the decisions and the actions that we take because of the way our life styles have had to be changed. We long for someone to understand and encourage us. And at times, the Lord provides someone to walk a long side of us allowing us a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, and a word of encouragement in those days when we think we cannot go on.

But there are also times of solitude when there isn't anyone to listen to us or to encourage us. We long for an understanding ear not wanting to burden our families and those close to us. This is when we must encourage ourselves. We can give ourselves a pep talk and this might help to some degree. But only the Lord and His Word can give us the deep individual encouragement that we need at those times.

Psalm 61: 1-3

Hear my cry. O God; Listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For you have been my refuge,
A strong tower against the foe.

God's unsurpassing strength is always with us and He desires to encourage us. It is His Word that will give us the deep heart penetrating encouragement that we need. He knows every tear that we shed and He alone knows what will encourage and lift us up out of a place of despair.

Psalm 94: 19

"When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought joy to my soul."

It is the Lord and His comfort that quiets and brings delight to our souls. Maybe it is a touch from a friend or loved one, maybe it is the sound of the ocean's roar, or a song of praise that touches our heart strings. God sends those things to us as well. He knows our every need before we even ask. But when He desires to be our source of encouragement, nothing else will do. He alone satisfies the longings that need to met.

Yes, there are times that we must encourage ourselves. It is in those times that we take our Bibles and go to a quiet place and allow Him to refresh and refill us. To lift us up and encourage us to go on. It is in the Lord's strength that we will be encouraged.

I Corinthians 1: 3-5

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows."

God wants to comfort us. Being comforted can mean being encouraged and strengthened with hope, in dealing with our afflictions. The more we suffer the more comfort He gives. Our God is a giving God who desires to meet our need of being encouraged.

If you are in need of encouragement today, the Lord desires to meet that need. Won't you let Him touch you today and meet that need.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Reach down and touch by the power of your Holy Spirit those places in my heart that only You can touch. Encourage me and strengthen me in hope this day. That I in turn would have the blessing of comforting someone else in need.