With so much discouraging information to process these days, how can we be re-encouraged? The story of Jehosophat is on point.

3 min read

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…

1 Thessalonians 5:11

If you feel like you are being dogged by discouragement lately, you are certainly not alone. Most of us are not going to admit it, but we feel it.

As one young lady described it, all the adversity and bad news these days makes her feel like a pinball, bouncing from one difficulty to another. It’s a lot to process.

So, how do we cope? As Christians, how can we keep from going under amidst all the discouraging things we see and hear? We know and believe that there is always hope in Jesus but sometimes the difficulties of life come between us and our hope like clouds come between us and the sun. The good is still there, but we just can’t see it. Our view is obstructed.

Or think of it this way. Just like you have a fuel tank on your car, you also have a personal courage tank. There are things in life that fill the tank (encouraging) and there are things in life that drain the tank (discouraging). Our challenge is that there are so many difficult and distressing things in our world at present, the tank is running dangerously low.

So, the question is how can we re-fill the tank? To start the conversation, I’ll offer two things:

One, fellowship with other believers as often as possible. In God’s beautiful plan, something special happens when we are in company with other believers. Whether it is just two, or ten, a hundred or a thousand, Christians joining together is encouraging (see Hebrews 10:24-25). These moments put back into the tank what life tends to take out. Sure enough, every time you lean into an opportunity to have fellowship with others, the cap to your courage tank is off, the nozzle is inserted…and you, my friend, are being filled.

Two, look for encouragement in God’s Word. Nothing encourages like the words of Scripture. Since all of the Bible points us to Jesus and testifies of God’s supreme faithfulness, we will be uplifted when we engage with it. Whatever book or section of the Bible you are reading, you will find something that encourages you and applies to your life.

Here’s an example. In my personal devotions, I just read about a guy by the name of Jehosophat in 2 Chronicles 20. He was one of the kings of Judah. Although these events happened a long time ago, there is something that came out of Jehosophat’s story that is as true today as it was back then.

Jehosophat and his people were very discouraged by circumstances they faced (neighborhood bullies). But that’s when someone stepped up and gave this encouraging message:

Don’t be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. (v. 15, NLT)

Do those words apply to me and you as much as they did to Jehosophat? Can we also take them to heart? Absolutely. Though the circumstances are different, the principle illustrated by this story is still true: No matter how chaotic the world gets, we need not be afraid. Why? Because God is with us and He is fighting for us.

Let that fill your tank. Receive it way down in your heart.

May the Lord encourage you today! As you seek fellowship with others and as you mine His word for encouragement, may He fill you and refill you again and again.

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.