Category: Encouragement For The Downcast

³³ I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. ~ John 16:33

We are taught that life is a series of hilltops and valleys… It’s either, or, but not both at the same time. But that doesn’t seem to be the case at all. It might seem that way when we are on the hilltop, or especially when we are in the valley. We can’t see the forest for the trees.

When all hell breaks loose against us and we can’t even seem to see a hill, much less a hilltop. It’s hard to see the good. It’s hard to stay encouraged. It’s hard to remain joyful.

But to suggest that life is a series of hilltops and valleys would suggest that life is either all good, or all bad. If that is the case, if life is either 100% all good, or 100% all bad, at any given point of time, then how can we rejoice always if it’s all bad, 100% bad? The quick and simple answer is, you can’t, because there would be nothing at all to rejoice about.

There is no problem rejoicing when we’re on the hilltop and life is 100% good. But how can we rejoice if life is 100% bad? So, life is not a matter of hilltops and valleys, but rather, life is like a railroad track.

Train tracks are built with two tracks so that the train rides smoothly on it. There is one track on the right side, and there’s another track on the left side, and we are the train that runs on those two tracks.

The train cannot run on just one, it needs both. It needs the two tracks to safely reach its destination. And if the train runs off the track, or derails, then there is a crash which ends in much loss of product, whatever the train is hauling, and even loss of lives. The environment around the crash site might even be impacted by the crash, depending on the type of material, and if it was toxic or not.

Life is much the same way. On one side we have the good, but on the other side, running parallel right alongside, we have the bad. And when you have a derailment in life, it can become very toxic depending on how you handle the situation. The more anger, the more wrath the more the environmental toxicity.

So, here is how it works. Those tracks that the train runs on, they take that train to its destination. The train cannot move without them. Likewise, the tracks of life have brought us to where we are now. It’s those ups and downs of life that have shaped, molded, and made us who we are today. The things that seem so huge, and even life changing, or life threatening, sometimes turn out to be minimal; or at least, not as impactful as it had appeared to be.

Peace. Love Go Forth and Ride Out The Tracks.

^11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11^NIV

When I was a kid, I had a teacher, at a Christian school, once tell me that God doesn’t desire to save everyone. Some people He created simply for Hell because He didn’t want them. When I quoted Jeremiah 29:11, she said that that verse is only for the exiled Jews. She then refused to let me respond and just continued speaking over me.

But I want you to think about this for a second Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9

⁹ The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Therefore, that teacher wasn’t just wrong but blasphemous as she told such a bold-face lie on God. So, then is Jeremiah 29:11 also for us today? Yes, of course it is. Does God not have plans for us? Does He not want to prosper us? Does He not want to withhold harm from us? Does He not have plans to give us hope and a future? Of course He does. These are our promises as well.

Yes, they were spoken to the people of Judah when they went into the Babylonian exile, but we, as God’s people, can claim them as well because no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly (Psalms 84:11b).

In his message from God, Peter assured us that God does not show partiality to any people, what He has for one, He has for all. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither male nor female when it comes to God’s great promises, and access to Him (Colossians 3:11). We are all the same. With the same opportunities. The same blessings. The same plans. There is no: This is for one but not the other.

The Jews were under the same erroneous understanding. They thought that salvation was only for the Jews, and God’s great promises were for them alone, since the promises were given to them. Paul also corrected that misunderstanding when he iterated the very same thing in Romans 2:11. Listen to me, God loves us. He wants what’s best for us. He will never leave us nor forsake us. God is our defender and our provider. We all have a call and plan for our lives. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Hold Fast To His Plans.

²⁷ And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” ²⁸ And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” ²⁹ But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put His Spirit on them!” ³⁰ And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp. ~ Numbers 11:27-30

¹⁶ But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ¹⁷ ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; ¹⁸ even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.’ ~ Acts 2:16-18

The Day of Pentecost came around 1200 to 1400 years after Moses. It took almost 1500 years for Moses’ prayer to be answered. His prayer that all people could have the Spirit of the LORD on and in them. Moses was long gone, but the desires of his heart were fulfilled. God didn’t forget about Moses’ prayer. He didn’t forget about his desire. God fulfilled it on the Day of Pentecost when He poured out His Spirit on all flesh.

Your prayers may not come to fruition in your lifetime. You may not see them come forth, but they aren’t forgotten. They haven’t been thrown out or discarded. God has never forgotten us. He has never abandoned us. When we delight ourselves in the LORD, He gives us the desires of our hearts.

If God remembered Moses’ desires and brought them to fruition almost 1500 years after he was gone, how much more will He fulfill the desires of His Church? Those whom He dwells with and through. Those who He has washed in His blood and redeemed for His purposes.

Pentecost isn’t just about the founding of the Church. It’s about promises being fulfilled and God’s never-ending love and devotion to His people.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Desire.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. ~ Acts 2:4

For ten days 120 people went into the Upper Room and spent time with the LORD in unity. They waited together with one goal in mind, to wait for the promised Holy Spirit. These 120 were the first official members of the body of Christ, yet they weren’t all named. Matter-a-fact, the majority are not named. These weren’t high society overly important men and women, these were just common people.

God doesn’t just use the important, influential, high society men and women. God uses willing hearts who are obedient to His call. We don’t need a huge bank account, important name, or large platform in order to be used by God. You don’t need to be extraordinary—you just need to be available.The Spirit will do the rest.

Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Available.