Encouragement in the Valleys

Life is hard. We all face challenges. What a comfort it is to know that God is with us through it all.

FAITH

8/2/20245 min read

Bible verse - James 4:8 text about drawing near to God, offers encouragement when in hard times

Encouragement for Hard Times

Can I share a bit of encouragement that is on my heart?

We all go through mountains and valleys in life. There are times of joy and celebration, and there are times of fear and anxiety. That is just life! I have definitely felt fear and anxiety threatening to overtake me from time to time. I've felt lost and I have called out to God on more than one occasion, just asking Him to help. And you know what? God has shown up. He's encouraged me and let me know that He is near.

Every. Single. Day.

He has shown me that He is faithful and He cares. Let me share the ways I have seen and felt God recently. Maybe it will be encouraging to you as well.

In Nature

We love the outdoors around here, and I have definitely felt God near as I have taken in His creation. Recently, I was walking through our woods, looking for wild raspberries. I was feeling a little bit fearful because we have had bear in our area recently. Not too long ago, we had a mom and three cubs on our back patio! I didn't want to find myself picking from a berry patch that was already claimed by that mama bear! I did the typical bear scare actions...making noise as I walked, but then decided to blast some praise music from my phone instead. I found myself dancing down the trail, blasting praise music, while looking for berries. It must have been quite a sight! 😂 But, you know what, that time of praise in God's beautiful creation quelched the fear in my heart. And, it reminded me that God has the power to take away my fears.

He is bigger than my fears.

I find that encouraging for all of the fears that I face in my life. I can tend to get caught up in the "what ifs" of life, letting my mind travel to every worst case scenario. This week, though, God reminded me that I don't need to do that. He's got this. Whatever His plan is for me, I can trust that it is ultimately good, even if I don't see that goodness immediately. He's in control, and that is a comfort.

Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

In God's Word

Oh boy, this one is huge. I try to spend time reading God's Word each morning. I call it my Coffee Time with Jesus. 😊 Some days my mind is more focused than others, but this time is precious to me. When I miss it, I can tell. So many times, a word of encouragement, a reminder, or a correction will jump off the page at me. For example, this past week, a passage that stood out was Psalms 40: 1-3.

Psalms 40: 1-3: "I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God."

What an encouragement that was to my anxious heart, and I have been able to return to it and dwell on it this week as fear has crept back in. God's Word, the Bible, is his love letter to us. It is a way for us to learn more about who He is, what His character is, His plans for us. There is so much power in reading God's Word, getting familiar with it, storing it in your heart. It can serve as a source of strength and encouragement during the valleys of life (and the mountains too!).

Through Music

I love praise and worship music. My playlists are pretty much filled with contemporary Christian music. I especially love summer because there are so many outdoor concerts going on in our area! Not too long ago, we were at a concert and the song "In the Eye of the Storm" by Ryan Stevenson spoke right to my heart. https://youtu.be/-sx8wTnnfSc?si=dwTkz__Rfqju2iiZ The words and the melody reminded me that God is in control through any storm that I can face.

A few days ago, we were at a free concert in our area and "Provider" by Cade Thompson did the same. https://youtu.be/XxkAp6xzMWM?si=uNwvXuai4QyCVjCQ It was like God was reminding me of His faithfulness and provision through these words. What a comfort.

Music is powerful. I find that surrounding myself with positive, uplifting music has a positive, uplifting effect on my spirit.

Through Other People

We are here to encourage one another, and this past week I have had people say something to me that I just knew was God speaking into my situation. Often times, the words are not even directed at me or my problem specifically, it is just someone talking or sharing from their heart. Just this morning, I had been feeling a little down in my Coffee Time with Jesus, just struggling a bit. Later, a friend was sharing and said, "I don't know who needs to hear this but..." And, you know what? It was me. I needed to hear those particular words. They were a comfort to my heart and very directly related to what I had been struggling with.

Hebrews 10:24: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Proverbs 12:25: Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

We need each other in this life! We can support each other, encourage each other, help each other in our daily trials. Words are powerful, and the words we share with others have the power to build up or tear down. I was so thankful for the encouraging words I heard this week.

I hope this has been an encouragement to you. Life is hard. We all struggle. We all face challenges. What a comfort it is to know though, that God is with us. If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us as well, a promise from James 4:8.

I hope you find encouragement in the week ahead!