His Encouragement: The Lord is near

Welcome! Welcome, dearest friends, to His Encouragement: Biblical Inspiration for Your Thursday. Every Thursday, a few blogging friends and I will each bring you a Bible passage and a little hope-filled discussion. We pray that these Thursday posts help you end your week strong in God’s love and purpose for you.

Today’s Encouragement

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

—Psalm 34:18, ESV 

We live in a world marred by sin and all of its horrible consequences. There are times when things happen that we cannot fathom, cannot wrap our minds around. Perhaps it is a devastating natural disaster or political upheaval or a terrifying medical diagnosis or a tragic unexpected accident.

I want to let you know that the pain and anguish that you feel in your heart during these times is valid. It is ok to be confused and deeply saddened. It is even ok to question the circumstances and ask God “Why?”

The Lord understands our pain even better than we do and He loves and cares very deeply for each one of us. As it is written in Jeremiah 31:3, the Lord said: “…I have loved you with an everlasting love…” and again in Psalm 103:17, “But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him…”

Unlike us, who see the world through very narrow and limited perspective that has been distorted by sin and selfishness, the Lord sees and comprehends all things: the beginning, the middle, the end. Not just for you, but for me and every human being who has ever lived, is currently living, or will live in the future. He sees the intricate tapestry of the universe and how everything must come together for the good of all life.

Yet, in His wisdom and mercy, this all-knowing and all-power Creator whose mere word spoke the universe — the UNIVERSE — into existence, willingly comes near to the brokenhearted, holds the hand of the crushed, and gently whispers: “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22)

Because we have the promise that this time of sorrow and pain will not last forever. Soon there will come that glorious day when “…the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

And when sin has been completely purged from this world and the entire universe, the Bible declares that “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)

So take heart, weary one! That glorious day is coming! The hour is hastening on. It’s radiant light is nearing far brighter than the sun…

Be sure to also visit my fellow bloggers and read their encouragement for your Thursday as well:

• Trisha of Joy of Reading
• Nicole of The Christian Fiction Girl
• Jessica of A Baker’s Perspective
• Becca of The Becca Files
• Jenny Lynn
• Gina of Stories by Gina
• Rev. Rebecca Writes

Hi there, blogger. Would you like to join us in sharing encouragement from the Word of God every Thursday? Don’t be shy! Contact Trisha or Nicole today!

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