Life can be tough.  We all face challenges.  We all know friends or associates who are dealing with significant problems and need to be encouraged.  They may be dealing with issues in school, peer pressure, academic challenges, trouble at work, unemployment or underemployment, financial struggles, debt, illness, physical or mental challenges, the loss of loved ones, marital issues, broken marriages, rebellious children, or social issues. They may be living in fear due to widespread terrorism, persecution, or the threat of war.  Simply put, people have many  reasons to feel discouraged.

What happens to people who become discouraged and lose hope?

The hearts of people who lose hope can become hardened by Satan’s lies and deceitfulness.

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13 ESV)

But exhort (encourage, build up) one another (brothers v. 12) every day, as long as it is called “today,” (while you still have opportunity) that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13 ESV)

We can encourage others.

The Bible tells us to “encourage one another with these words”.

What are “these words.”

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV)

The message of hope is Jesus Christ.  Jesus conquered sin and death. Jesus is coming back for those who have accepted Him as their Savior.

 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4 ESV)

Christians are a victorious people, in spite of all of the challenges they face, because of what God has done for us.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV)

God gives Christians hope.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)

As Christians, we do not need to be controlled by discouragement.  As believers, our hearts do not need to become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Satan).  In spite of hardships all around us, we can anticipate victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  We do have a message of hope.

You have a message of hope.  Share this message of hope with someone you know.

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

+9