How does God encourage me?

Matthew 9:22Jesus turned around, and when he saw her he said, “Daughter, be encouraged! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

God heals our wounds and renews our faith.

Matthew 9:2Some people brought to him [Jesus] a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”

Some people have serious physical problems—maybe it’s cancer or Alzheimer’s or perhaps a crippled leg or chronic back pain. Everyone has a serious spiritual problem—sin. At times God chooses to miraculously heal a person’s physical problem, and that is a great encouragement. But the healing is temporary because that person will still die someday. Sin is killing us all. What we need is healing that is permanent, that will last forever. Faith in Jesus heals our souls, restoring them to the permanent condition of being perfect in God’s eyes. Faith in Jesus makes us well for eternity, and that is the greatest encouragement of all.

1 Kings 19:4-8Then he [Elijah] went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!” He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.

God knows we need food, water, sleep, and rest. He made us that way. God meets our needs so that we can continue to do good work for him.

Psalm 138:3As soon as I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me strength.

God responds when we talk to him and gives us strength when we are weak.

Psalm 119:25, 28I lie in the dust; revive me by your word. . . . I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word.

Romans 15:4Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

God revives your hope as we read his written Word.

Hebrews 12:5Have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said, “My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when he corrects you.”

God disciplines us because he cares about us. We should be encouraged that he loves us enough to correct us and keep us on the best path for our lives.