Category: Encouragement For The Downcast

¹⁵ Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. ¹⁶ Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. ~ Isaiah 49:15-16

I know some will say that this portion of Scripture was written to the Jews and for Jerusalem, and they are right. Jerusalem was destroyed and the Jews living there, along with the king and the royal family, all the nobles were taken into captivity. Through all the destruction and sorrow, and pain that they suffered despair began to set in. Zion, another name for Jerusalem, started to complain that the LORD had forsaken them, that their God had forgotten them. So, God sent them a reassuring promise.

God said, look, “Can a nursing mother forget the child of her womb?” Normally, a good mother will never forget the child she bore. But God continued, “Even if she does, it’s highly unlikely, but even if she does forget her child that she is nursing whom she just gave birth to, I will never forget you. I can’t forget you, because I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” This is referring to Jesus’ crucifixion. The nails that were pounded into the palms of His hands, bursting through blood vessels and coming out on the other side and then driven into the wooden beams of the cross, imprinted, or engraved our names on the palms of His hands.

That is how I know that this promise is for us as well. Because Jesus did not die such a horrific and cruel death as death on a cross for the Jews of Jerusalem only, but for us as well. Therefore, if our names were imprinted, or engraved on the palms of His hands as well, how can He forget us? And if He cannot forget us, that means we are ever in His sight and on His mind.

There is nothing that you are going through, or are experiencing that God does not know about. It may seem like you are in it all alone, and by yourself, but that is a lie from the enemy. Your God is there with you to shield you and to protect you. Yes, you may experience the storm. Yes, you may experience the earthquake, but God is right there just in case you stumble so that you will not fall. He will catch, He will lift you up. So, rejoice and be glad, for your God has not forgotten you. He is coming back one day to get us. All of us who have kept His commandments and who are waiting for His great return.

Father, thank You that You have not forgotten me. Please see the situation that I am in and give me peace in my storm. Speak to it so that it may calm, in Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.

14 “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. 15 But just as all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the evil things, until He has destroyed you from off this good land that the LORD your God has given you, 16 if you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that He has given to you.” ~ Joshua 23:14-16

By now, Joshua is old and advanced in years. He had led Israel for many years. He is now 110 years old, and the time of his death has come. He and Caleb were the only two men of fighting age who came up out of the land of Egypt during God’s great deliverance of the Israelites out of the land of slavery to enter the Promised Land. All the other men of fighting age perished in the desert because of unbelief. He knows how fickle these people are. So, he gathers the whole assembly of people, all the tribes of Israel, he calls them to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers, and there he presented them before God.

Joshua reminded them of where they came from and what God had done for them, and what He was still doing for them. He knew that they were prune to stray from their God, so he warned them to fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness. He also told them, “Look, you yourselves know that all of God’s good promises have been fulfilled for you.” Not one of His good promises has failed.

Now, here is the kicker. Now, in verse 15, Joshua begins to explain to the people saying, Look, The LORD your God has fulfilled all of the good things that He promised concerning you, but please understand that just like He fulfilled the good things, He will also bring upon you all the evil things that He has promised, until He has destroyed you from off this good land that He has given you.

Therefore, the LORD our God is a promise keeper. Whether the promise is good or whether it is for evil, as long as the requirements are fulfilled, God will bring that promise to pass. Now, understand this, God has given us great and awesome promises. Some are great blessings, and others are not so great.

For instance, Jesus promised that He will be back to get all of us who love Him and are waiting for His appearing. He also promised that if you are not waiting or do not desire Him, you will be left behind. So, just like God fulfilled all of His promises to ancient Israel, so will He fulfill all of His modern promises to us.

Therefore, stay awake, pay attention, and watch and pray so that you will not be left behind. Jesus is coming back real soon.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You are a promise keeper, and You will fulfill everyone of Your good promises to me, good or bad. Help me to be obedient so that You can fulfill Your great and awesome promises to me, and that I might reap the fat of the land, and live in your abundance. In Jesus’ Name, amen.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). — Matthew 1:23 (NIV)

As we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded of the most beautiful and profound truth: God chose to be with us. The name “Immanuel” captures the heart of the Christmas story: God with us. This simple yet powerful name declares that the Creator of the universe came to dwell among us in the person of Jesus Christ. That we, though unworthy, are loved by God, and He desires to have us with Him.

Jesus’ birth was not just a historical event; it was the fulfillment of God’s promise to be with His people. For generations, the people of Israel longed for the Messiah. They hoped for a Savior who would deliver them from oppression, bring peace, and restore the kingdom of Israel. Little did they know that this Savior would come to parents of no esteem or valor but regular, common people.

When God chose to send Jesus, He didn’t come in glory or might. He came in humility and simplicity. He wasn’t born to nobles in a palace or scholars in the temple but to two commoners. Why? Because their hearts were willing to follow the LORD and be used by Him, however He saw fit. In the midst of our busyness and distractions during this Christmas season, I want you to take some time and think about what it means that God chose to come near to us in such an intimate and personal way. How, unlike many other religions, ours has a savior that is near and not far off. A savior who dwells with us, in us, and through us.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Take Some Time.

2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. ~ Micah‬ ‭5:2‬‬‬

The prophecy of Jesus dates all the way back to creation. Jesus Himself brought forth the prophecy of His coming, as all things were created through Him, by Him, and for Him. It wasn’t just by coincidence that Jesus came 4,000 years after Adam. On the fourth day of creation, the sun was created. That was a sign, that Jesus would come in the 4th millennia of this earth. His coming was proclaimed from ancient days by He Himself.

Therefore His coming is from Ancient Days, which is why He is the Ancient of Days. So, be encouraged today, our savior isn’t a random man. He wasn’t just some person God created to bear our sins and redeem. No, our savior is the creator Himself. The Ancient of Days. The Beginning and The End. The First and The Last. The Alpha and The Omega. The very first Christmas gift was the Ancient of Days.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Know The Savior.

¹³ And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His Name Immanuel.” ~ Isaiah 7:13-14

Isaiah uttered the prophecy of the virgin birth of the coming Messiah on the behalf of God around 700 years before its fulfillment. King Ahaz of Judah was about to be attacked by Rezin, the king of Syria, and Pekah, the king of Israel. The two kings had conspired together to overtake Judah and place someone else on the throne.

When King Ahaz was advised about the impending doom, he and all his people were terrified at the news, and their hands trembled and their knees knocked together. But God, in His great mercy and in His grace, had other plans for Judah. He said, “No, nothing like that is going to happen here. Matter of fact, I will bring disaster on both of those kings and their countries. Then, He told Ahaz to ask for a sign, but Ahaz would not. So, God said alright then, since you will not ask for a sign, I will give you and the whole world a sign. The sign is, the virgin will give birth to a Son, and His Name shall be called Immanuel.

This was a prophecy about Jesus and His virgin birth. The virgin was Mary. Now, think about this. Mary could very well have read that same portion of Scripture herself, maybe several times before, or she could have heard that Scripture, but never once did she realize that the virgin prophesied about it was her. God Himself had prophesied about her that she would deliver hope to the world. Jesus is our hope, and the only hope for the whole world.

Ahaz and Judah found themselves in a hopeless situation. The two kings were way too strong for them. Therefore, they were terrified, but God…

When life happens, and it seems like the whole world has teamed up with all of hell against you and there is no way out. Remember the promise of Christmas. God is with us. The Scripture says, “…If God is for us, who can be against us?” ^NIV Romans 8:31b. God has sent His Son Immanuel, which means God with us because He is always with us. When trouble comes, or temptations, or persecutions, do not fear what the world will throw at you or what the enemy’s plans for you are; just remember that God has better plans because God is for you, and God is with you, and if He is with you, He will never leave you, nor will He let you be overcome by the enemy. Repeat it, God is with us.

Father, thank You for giving us Your Son Jesus, who is actually God with us. I surrender my will to You and ask that You be king of my heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” ~ Luke 2:13-14

By the time the angel appeared to the shepherds, Jesus had already been born. The angel told them that a Savior was just born. Then, a great multitude of heavenly hosts appeared with the angel praising God and declaring peace to those on earth with whom He is pleased. Isaiah prophesied that when Jesus, the coming messiah, is born, He will be called Prince of Peace.

On the night that He was betrayed, Jesus told His disciples,

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you … (John 14:27a).

Jesus gave us His peace so that we are not shaken no matter what comes against us, so that in all situations, no matter what, we can have peace because peace comes from Him.

I read a story once about a king who loved paintings. He announced that any artist who could paint a picture depicting peace would be greatly rewarded. The day came, and many paintings were presented to the king. After examining them, the king chose two. One was a scene of a beautiful calm lake, with water so still and so clear that even the inner surface of the lake was visible. The sky was blue with white fluffy cotton clouds floating and drifting lazily overhead. The air was so still that not a leaf was waving.

The second was of mountains, which were completely dry and lifeless. Over the mountains were thick, angry black clouds with lightning flashing and the wind blowing. The heavy rains were pelting down on the landscape, causing the river to swell and overflow. The storm swept over the scene, causing the trees to sway terribly. Everyone thought the first picture would surely win.

After a few days of being on display, the king announced, to everyone’s shock, that the second picture would be the winner. When questioned about his decision, he said, “Look at this tree bent to one side by the wind on the left side of the waterfall. Look at the nest on its branch. See how a bird is feeding its chicks with such tenderness, calmness, and love.”

That is the kind of peace that the Prince of Peace gives us. Even amidst the haste, noise, and confusion, even when problems threaten to topple our stability and our whole world comes crashing down, the Shalom Peace of Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God, will keep us and preserve our joy. We are not alone, the Prince of Peace is with us, therefore, we will say, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank You, LORD Jesus, that You give us Your peace that passes all understanding and will keep us calm and at peace even in the most difficult times. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.