Praying To Not Give In To Discouragement

 Recently I read the following quote from Mother Teresa.

Don’t give in to discouragement.  If you are discouraged, it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust your own powers.  Never bother about people’s opinions.  Be obedient to truth.  For with humble obedience you will never be disturbed.  (Mother Teresa)

She really caught the spirit of I believe God was trying to tell us when we read:

Let your hope make you glad.  Be patient in time of trouble and never stop praying  Romans 2:12

Covid-19 infection rates here in British Columbia have been climbing in recent days.  After seeing numbers stay at or around 35-40 for a while to have them just a couple of weeks later hit numbers like 100 and 150 is discouraging.  The reality of the highly infectious Delta variant floating around in our communities is disconcerting, to say the least.

We’ve prayed together about discouragement before but with the constant challenges before us I think it’s important to circle back over and over again to remind ourselves of God’s care for us and His comfort and support that is close to us today. 

So, let’s come to God and allow Him to address any discouragement we are experiencing in any area of life.  Let’s strengthen ourselves and pray for one another to remember that God is with us to encourage us.  Let’s make a choice to hang onto His goodness as we go through these times.  Thank You Lord that those who hope ….

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31

We invite You to fill us with the power of Your Spirit to live well today and do what’s right today and trust You for whatever tomorrow and next week bring.  Help us to find joy in this day, in

whatever circumstances we find ourselves because joy in You is our strength. 

Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.   Psalm 31:24

We clearly don’t have all the answers and health officials and politicians don’t either.  We don’t always see how things all works together but if we trust that if we will just do our part, stay strong, and hope in You, we will see the way forward to all that You have in mind … and that will be good.

Your word tells us to:

Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.   Psalm 55:22

And so we want to bring the weariness of things not being as we would wish they are today to you, the burden of the pressures , the extra thinking and planning to prepare for unknowns and ever changing circumstances, the concerns for health and the ability to provide for our families ongoing – all the burdens that weigh us down today. 

According to what we read in Your word we affirm:

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

We lean into You so you can sustain us.  We rest in You so we can stand straight and strong while the storms pass by around us. 

We are comforted today that You care and that:

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits  are crushed.  The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.  Psalm 34:17-19

We are not praying into dead air.  We are not praying to a God who doesn’t are.  We are praying to a God who is close at hand and who comes to the rescue each and every time.  Thank You.  Amen