Words of Encouragement

In the course of 24hrs, and on World Aids Day (12/1/2009) I heard various life trials and tribulations.

1. A classmate told me of the time she was raped in 2003 and how she was molested as a child.  These incidents in her life kept her from becoming close to males through out her life and as forced her to find happiness in her job. She is 36 and told me she would have been in love, been married, would have already had children, if she did not encounter these trials. I told her that I was also raped in January of 2007. I also told her that same year I was baptised and I was in a severe car accident that left 17 pins and 2 plates in my right leg. That same year I went to counseling and was prescribed antidepressants and panic medicine.

2. I found out that my father did not receive the job he was promised over the Thanksgiving holiday, keeping in mind he was layed off almost 3 months ago. My mother was disappointed and has been worried for the past couple of months, but doesn’t want to worry my father so she calls me to talk.

3. I heard on the radio that a woman was told by her husband, yesterday morning, that he has been HIV positive for the past 2 years of their 20 year marriage. The man claimed he stepped out because his wife could not meet his needs. The woman starting crying and her husband told her she was being insensitive to his feelings and needs. The man was sleeping with other men.

As life brings us obstacles to overcome and ordeals to test our faith in God and who we are, remember that God only brings you to and through obstacles that he knows you can tackle through your faith and His words, mercy, and grace. Each obstacle prepares you for the blessings that are about to come in your favor, so even though it may be difficult to say and understand, give thanks for the good and bad. I honestly believe that without the obstacles I endured in 2007 I would not be able to know how strong my faith is and how strong I am. Without the obstacles I endured I would not be able to recognize my blessings and my ability to throughly understand hardships. As I was reminded by the dear soul mate, God’s word is ever-living, and thus applies differently to various parts of your life and its meaning will change, but the words remain.

“Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you.”

~ Aldous Huxley

Useful Scripture for Encouragement

Deuteronomy 31:6 is an encouragement verse that talks about being strong and courageous. It pleads with us not to be terrified of our enemies because the Lord God is always on our side. Philippians 4:6 talks about being not anxious about anything. This scripture encourages people to pray and to pray with contentment and thanksgiving to God. Galatians 6:9 is an encouragement verse for success where it states that people should not stop doing good for at the proper time they will reap a harvest if they do not give up.