Category: Weekly Word of Encouragement

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;let the distant shores rejoice. (Psalms 97:1, NIV) When it feels like our world is collapsing, or at least that everything seems crazy, we can still rejoice. Why? Yahweh reigns over all the earth. He is the only one who knows how to manage a sinful world with kindness and justice. And he has the power to do it. He gives people freedom but he still accomplishes his purposes because his ways are far beyond ours. Therefore, we can be glad when trials come. We may also be sorrowful but joy still resides in our spirit if we fix our eyes on the Lord. All who follow the Lord can be glad and rejoice. Yahweh reigns and his reign will be complete after the Son returns and establishes justice on the earth. Overcoming A Fault That’s Beyond Your CharacterJanuary 23, 2026Hope In God Continue Reading →

For he is our Godand we are the people of his pasture,the flock under his care. Psalms 95:7 (ESV) A shepherd’s goal is to protect and support the sheep. A good shepherd has the tools and skills to accomplish this. The shepherd knows when the sheep are in danger even if the sheep do not know. The shepherd acts to protect them from the danger. Likewise, God is our shepherd who watches us. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. We journey in his pasture. He sees what we are doing and guides us along the good path. He does not prevent all suffering; he allows it to transform us. But he does offer protection and support for our soul in all circumstances. He will teach our soul how to grow and flourish in every situation. He is available if we seek him, abide in him, and keep our gaze on him. Continue Reading →

When I said, “My foot is slipping, ”your unfailing love, LORD, supported me.When anxiety was great within me,your consolation brought me joy. Psalms 94:18-19 (NIV) We will have times when our foot is slipping and anxiety wells up within us. Whether it is health, finances, relationships, loneliness, or grief we cannot avoid the distress in this world. What makes us different is how we walk through these times. What makes us different is the fact that the Lord is with us and wants to console us. He has many ways of consoling us and they are all signs of his care for us. He may remove the distress, he may reduce it or he may allow it to run its course. He may touch our hearts with his presence; he may bring words from a friend or he may speak through a verse of Scripture. Sometimes we can’t perceive his Continue Reading →

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon. Psalms 92:12 (NIV) Whether or not you feel like you are flourishing now, God promises that you will. We all want to flourish, to grow in abundance and be fruitful. God made us to flourish (“be fruitful and multiply” Gen. 1:18) and so he made us with the desire to flourish. We have barriers to flourishing now – our weaknesses and the corruption all around us – but God will make you flourish in part now and fully in the next age. Our hearts flourish now as we abide in Christ and partake of his virtues. The Bible likes to compare God’s followers to trees in order to illustrate how we will flourish. Psalm 1:3 says we are like a tree planted by a stream; in other words, we have plenty of sustenance for growth. Continue Reading →

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. Psalms 91:14 (NIV) This verse reminds us of Romans 8:28 where God promises: 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. Romans 8:28 (NIV) In this age, God does protect us and does good for his faithful followers, but not fully. We know that he did not protect Jesus and his Apostles from harm. And we know that Scripture teaches us that we must follow in their footsteps to some degree. We know that we still suffer. So are we really protected? Yes, we are protected in our interior self. Our heart and mind cannot be defeated by destructive forces. We are one spirit with God (1 Cor. 6:17). Nothing can separate us from Continue Reading →