Encouragement

Encouragement is something we all need; it gives us the extra drive to live. When we are not encouraged we tend to belittle ourselves or we allow harsh words to hurt us.

Some people try to look to others, or their own family for encouragement; but not everyone can get it from their family or friends so they go on a downward spiral of depression and self-destruction.

The mistake most people make is they think they can get constant encouragement from family and friends. The truth is there is only one person that can give you that encouragement and that is God. He lifts you up when you are down, he guides you and he is the only person that is always there.

The reason why he does this is just because he loves you and wants you to always love him, however this does not mean we should only turn to him when we feel self-pity. Self-pity is only selfishness and un-thankfulness for the blessings God has already given us.

We always need encouragement but we should also work to not be so self-centered to the point of depression. God knows and understands the problems we go through but he expects us not to dwell on our troubles but rather the blessings we have.

If you feel like life is so bad and that you have no reason to live then look at it this way; you are alive which means there must be a reason. Our job is to find the reason God keeps us alive, and how to serve him with our lives.

1Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”

Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

If you are bullied, don’t think that everyone hates you or that you are the only one that has to go through that crap. That kind of thinking is also selfish; because there are people all over the world that are bullied and they are just thankful to be alive.

Also you have to know that a person usually bullies for a reason that is beyond your control. All bullies have deep emotional scars in their hearts that they try and make fade by causing other people pain.

Even Jesus needed Strength, and needed to be encouraged.

Luke 22: 39-44

Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

In the end everyone needs encouragement to fight the battle we call life, and the only true person who can help is God. It is our job to find those who need God and point the way to him.

Hebrews 12: 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.