Be Encouraged…Encourage Yourself in the Lord

By Lady Patricia A. Jones

United Missionary Baptist Church of KC

Rev. James M. Jones, Pastor

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Recently, I was asked to give a ten-minute talk to a group of ladies to encourage them. Here is a portion of what I shared:

This current dispensation of time leaves many Christians and non-Christians concerned and fretful about the current situation going on in the county, city, state, and national governments.

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As changes are made and trickle down, often it is low- and middle-income citizens that are the most affected. This causes anxiety, worry, and depression among many.

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Many who have left the church will return to church.

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Many who have not been introduced to God and received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, will come to the church for basic needs. Can you pay my light bill? Can you pay my water bill? Can you pay my gas bill? They may be out of food and need to be provided food for their family.

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Our seniors are worried about Medicare, Medicaid, their dwindling savings, and their basic cost of living increases.

There is good news and there's good news.

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The good news is worrying, fretting, and depression won't help.

The good news is the Word of God can help.

The Bible is God’s food to a starving land.

Psalms 37:25 says, “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

This reassurance tells us and reminds us that God will take care of His own. As Pastor Jones preaches to the congregation, the cows on a thousand hills are His and even those thousand hills belong to God.

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Our concerns can be better placed in the hands of God rather than trying to figure it out without Him. Matthew 11:29, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’ We must make sure we are yoked up with God. Not man.

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1 Peter 5:7, Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’

God will take all your burdens and your worries and make it alright.

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This wilderness we are in currently is like nothing we’ve seen or experienced before. Just as Moses assured the Israelites and the Red Sea, these words apply to us today. Exodus 14:13-14, “But Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the LORD’s salvation, which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

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So remember, in times of uncertainty, we can find our strength in God. He invites us to lean on Him and not to rely solely on our own understanding. Through His word, we uncover the truth that, even in our weakest moments, we can find solace and fortitude.

The Bible is full of verses that talk about encouragement. They remind us that God is greater than our circumstances and that He equips us to face each day with courage, knowing we are fortified by His strength.