Monday, January 2, 2012


Have you ever felt like you are ready to throw up your hands in despair and just quit? I don’t know about you but life sure can make me want to lose heart sometimes. It is so easy for me to get lost in all the day to day difficulties of life and forget what I know to be true. Thankfully last night the Lord encouraged me through these verses during my quiet time.  

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the Goodness of the Lord in the land of the Living. Wait on the Lord, Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait I say on the Lord!” Psalm 27:13-14

As I read these words I connected with David. He had every reason to lose heart! Looking back over David’s life it was filled with one difficult circumstance after another. What did David do when felt like giving up? He remembered what He knew to be true. David’s faith in God kept him from losing heart no matter how hard things got. He knew both God’s character and His promises and trusted in Him completely. He believed whole heartily that he would see God’s goodness played out in his own circumstances and ultimately in the entire world when the promised Messiah came to establish God’s eternal Kingdom on earth. Because of his faith David was able to endure and overcome in every circumstance he faced.

David’s faith was like a mirror that let me see my own. It showed me how short sighted I had become lately. The Spirit of God reminded me as I thought about these verses that He is good and that in every circumstance I face I can expect to see His goodness if I trust him and remain faithful (Wait). Remembering this gives me new courage to trust Him and accept the things in life that are difficult or discouraging because I know that a dawn is coming that will put an end to this dark night we are all walking through. That dawn is the second coming of Jesus Christ who is the promised Messiah David believed would come. On that day the entire world will see God’s goodness and justice established forever. If I didn’t believe this to be true I would have no reason not to become cynical and bitter with despair, but I know that it is true and therefore I can and will endure joyfully looking forward to the Kingdom of God!

I am so thankful that this encouragement came at the beginning of this New Year. As a family we have some difficult (and some exciting) days ahead of us with raising funds for adoption and with Heather's dad's battle with cancer. I am also thankful for this promise that if we trust Him and wait faithfully He will strengthen our heart when we need it most. Knowing that our God is good and expecting to see His faithfulness we are starting this year with  joyful confidence!

 Thankfully in Grace     Shannon Compton

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