Encourage Yourself in the Lord 7-8-24
All of us have had situations that caused us to be saddened, sometimes feeling that there is no hope. Yet, we are encouraged by the Word of God and by the lives of all those people who had almost lost hope. Jesus Christ was in a situation where He became despaired when He knew that He was going to be separated from God because He took on the sins of the world. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (1 Corinthians 5:21).
In the natural, Jesus did not want to face becoming sin that would cause Him to be separated from God the Father, even though it was temporary. My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? (Psalm 22, Matthew 26:46b). It is an expression of his anguish and suffering as he bore the sins of the world and was temporarily separated from God the Father.
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God (1 Samuel 30:6). This is the point, although David’s situation was different because of opposition, he encouraged himself in the Lord.
The verse is a plea to God to help the speaker overcome their sadness and despair. The speaker is asking why they are feeling down and restless and is seeking hope in God.
Dearly beloved, sometimes, what we are going through is between us and God, only. He
allows that to happen to show us that He is the Only One who will always be with us. I will never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Remember this, you’re never alone, even though you feel like you are. So, when nobody is around, encourage yourself in the Lord.
Blessings! Grace and Peace,
Betty A. Burnett ~ burnettministries.org
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