You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and you listen to their cry, Psalm 10:17
I’ve been searching for encouraging verses lately. It seems many verses have promises “built in.” I know that there are times when I feel I cry out to a God who does not seem to hear me. Sometimes God seems oh-so-silent. I have wondered if God is really there for me. There were times I even questioned if God was there at all.
When feelings like these start to surface, I find the best thing to do is read my Bible. I need to find verses that will quell those doubts - simply drown them out. Verses like the one above help me so much.
God does hear us. He may not remove the affliction, but He promises to encourage us. He promises that He does hear.
It can be hard to understand why we have to go through times of trial, times of affliction. Sometimes it is hard to trust that God really has a plan.
I recently came across the following "If there were no valleys - there would also be no mountains." Can you imagine a world of complete flatness? While it can sound enticing for the moment, how dreary it would become. If there were no lows spots in our lives - we would never know or appreciate the highs places.
I once heard it said that God created us to experience every human emotion. While I can find no Scriptural basis for that saying, it does ring true in many ways. I have felt intense joy. I have felt deep sorrow. I have known pain. I have known the absence of pain. I have known love - and also known hate.
Knowing sorrow has shown me how I need to appreciate the moments of joy. The depth of pain teaches me to enjoy the pain-free moments. To cherish them. Knowing hate has shown me how precious it is to love.
Would I at all appreciate joy, the absence of pain, and love if I had never experienced their opposites? I know for certain I did not appreciate good health when I had it.
It is immensely gratifying to know my prayers and cries do not go unanswered and that God’s encouragement is on it’s way. It may be in the form of a song, the word of another, an unexpected gift, or in His word. But it is coming. Expect it.
Father God, Thank you for the written word you have left us. Thank you that you know us so well, that you knew we'd need encouragement from you in this life. Help us to cultivate an attitude of expectation for the good in this life. Amen and amen.
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