After 45 rewarding, lively, memorable years in the field of education, I retired. (A few of my former students and colleagues are members of our St. Paul Parish family!) I thought I had retired—a year later I found myself the sole “employee” running a small business from open to close Monday through Friday. Many good people have come into the store and become friends and even some have become “family”. Men and women, old, young, and everywhere in between have shared their lives and needs. Keeping a prayer request book on the counter near the cash register has opened the door to many conversations about life, faith, joys, sorrows, sicknesses, healings. I’ve even been blessed, and humbled, to pray with some of the customers right there in the store and even on the phone. God is so good!
The last few months it seems that people are burdened and weary, fearful and distraught. Covid has worn many down, winter has iced over their usual good mood, and many smiles have flattened into plain “hellos”. The prayer requests are outnumbering the praise reports! Someone said to me, “Life is just too hard, I feel like God has forgotten us!” Ouch! This attitude isn’t just among the people that I deal with everyday—it seems to pervade many areas of our society and our social media avenues. So, what message of encouragement can we share to help to lift these de-pressive fears attitudes? What can we say to draw people back to dependence on the love of God and trust in His comfort and hope? What words of life can we share with them?
The book, Jesus Always, by Sarah Young provided some answers. Imagine Jesus, the Christ, speaking to you these words:
Find JOY in me, for I am Your Strength! It is vital that you keep your Joy alive, especially when you are in the throes of adversity. Whenever you are struggling with difficulties, you need to guard your thoughts and spoken words carefully. If you focus too much on all the things that are wrong, you will become increasingly discouraged—and your strength will be sapped. As soon as you realize what is happening, stop this hurtful process immediately. Turn to Me, asking Me to help you with your struggles.
Take time to praise Me: Speak or sing words of worship. Read Scriptures that help you rejoice in Me. Remember that your problems are temporary but I am eternal—and so is your relationship with Me! As you find Joy in Me, delighting in My unfailing Love for you, your strength will increase. This is the Joy of the Lord, which is yours for all time and throughout eternity.
So, dear friends, may this message of Joy in the Lord warm your souls and give you help to speak to others when they need words of encouragement. Pray for them, lifting them up to God’s Holy Will. There are so many words of encouragement, peace, reassurance, love, joy, thanksgiving, and faithfulness in the New Testament epistles, open your Bibles and be encouraged. It certainly will guide me in my encouragement with people!
One of my very favorite Bible quotes is 1Thessalonians 5:16-24. Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thank-ful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; do not despise inspired messages. Put all things to the test: keep what is good and avoid every kind of evil. May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being—spirit, soul, and body—free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you will do it, because He is faithful!
May God bless you and your life! ~~Alvera