An Open Letter Of Encouragement

A Letter of Encouragement

Psalm 42-43

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Put a song in your heart to carry you through.

When we are down and out,

when things are against us,

when lifes trials come our way,

and try to steal our joy...

We have a choice...

Dear Friend,

I was just thinking and praying for you and thought I’d drop a line of encouragement your way.

The other night, we sat together in a classroom. I spoke with you about the things going on in my life, and you shared some of yours.

I noticed something different about you, in your countenance.

I noticed something fresh about you, a renewed spirit.

You had a spark in your eye, a fire, a zeal, and an appetite for the things above.

When I got home that night I told these things I witnessed to my wife.

You were not the same person I met when just a few short years ago. You have been changed!

And now, many other circumstances have come upon you. The waters have become very rough. But don’t lose hope. Keep trusting.

Let me share this with you.

* * * * *

I was reading through John [interestingly enough] in preparation for the Franklin Graham Festival. When new souls are won to Christ, they immediately receive a book to guide them in their new walk, and the first part is the Gospel of John, so I thought I should brush up on it.

But when I started to read, I found that on several occasions, when the crowds sought after Jesus, whether to praise and be healed...or the Pharisees went after Him, to confront and accuse Him, as in the temple, or after he healed on the Sabbath...

Jesus went off to be alone, away from the crowd, away from his accusers...

and it was explained as... ’for His Time was Not Yet Come’.

Throughout the New Testament, the disciples, and followers of Christ, moved from one place to the next. When they were received well, they stayed a while, then moved on. Usually they moved on when there was an uprising against them.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that cause us to make changes. We can pray the Jabez prayer and ask that God bless us, give us more for Him, keep us from harm, and not let us harm others. And we are in a spot, where we think things are going well, when all of a sudden. BAM. Sudden Impact. We are moved from our comfort zone to a new situation, in which we can ONLY trust in God for Strength, and a Light at the end of the Tunnel.

Our Senior Bible Study has been studying the Psalms. It started with my dad’s last message on Psalm 40. [My life song and story is vs. 1-10 with vs 8 as my key verse, as it now stands] We have continued through up to tonight with Psalm 52.

But as we read and studied through Psalms 42 and 43 in one week, [a teaching Psalm - Maschil]

It taught me a very valuable lesson.

When we are down and out,

when things are against us,

when lifes trials come our way,

and try to steal our joy...

We have a choice...

A choice to sit and bathe in the misery... [ my typical approach as misery loves company! ]

OR [ what I learned ! ]

A choice to put on the mindset that God is in control

and to Trust in God

To Hope in God

To give praise to our Lord.

The Psalmist writes in 42:5, 11 and 43:5

Why are you downcast, o my soul? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him for the help of his countenance

In 43:3

Vs 3. Send the light, and the truth. Dispel the darkness. Lead me back to the place where I was able to worship you.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel!

And going back to Ps 42 Vs. 8

This little gem of a verse…

Vs. 8. By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me…a prayer to the God of my life.

Put a song in your heart!

My 4 year old son is constantly singing. And when its not Bob the Builder, its PRAISES TO JESUS! and HALLELUJAH to GOD!!

We need that childlike faith, to sing praises in our hearts.

* * * * *

So, my friend

Put a song in your heart!

Be encouraged!

Put your HOPE, TRUST AND FAITH in God the Father