Encouragement

Hey everyone, I know it’s been a while since I wrote on this blog. Recently things have been pretty crazy with school, church, family and friends along with other things going on in my life to where I’ve started making some changes in my life so that way I’ll have more time to get different projects done. I decided to write about encouragement because lately, I’ve been feeling like a lot of people have been going through a hard time and just need some encouragement. Carlos Rodriguez once said, “if there is a Goliath in front of you that means there is a David inside of you.” Imagine there is a bully in front of you. Would you run away or would you stand up to that bully? For me personally, I have been bullied and it hurts but something I have chosen to do is ask that person. Why are you doing this? Because majority of the time either that’s the only way he or she knows how to act or that person has been bullied and wants other people to know how he or she feels. Joshua 1:9 says” Be strong and courageous do not be afraid for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Did you catch that? God is with you wherever you go and because of that we all can be strong and courageous! So through that verse and God you can do anything! I know life can be hard but something God has been teaching me over and over again is to trust him no matter what. J.I. Packer once said,” The stars may fail, but God’s promises will stand and be fulfilled.”God’s promises will be fulfilled it just takes time and patience. Joel Steen once said,” If we’re going to bring out the best in people, we too need to sow seeds of encouragement.” As Christians we are called to encourage one another. I know life can be pretty stressful and just plain crazy that’s how my life is with different decisions for my life that I need to make. But it helps to encourage someone else that is going through a hard time as well although, something to keep in mind though is that only Christ can understand what you and other people go through. Because every situation is different. While there are some situations that are similar something I’ve been learning is that sometimes the person just needs a hug and some encouragement. Something that I learned last weekend was to face the world. John 6:37 says’ “All these the Father gives to me, and whoever comes to me I will never turn away.” I know life can be hard there are even a lot of things from my past both that I have done that I’m not proud of and people in my life that have hurt me but something that I’ve been learning that a friend of mine told me is that your life doesn’t define you. God defines you! Which is exactly why God will never turn you away and why I would never turn anyone away even when I had or am having a bad day and just want to hide from the world which there have been times that I’ve wanted to hide from the world because of different things that have happened in my life. Deuteronomy 31:6 says,” Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid because of them for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you” This is exactly what I was saying! I know life can be hard but Christ has called us to be brave no matter what and honestly that doesn’t mean putting on a mask everything isn’t ok. Being brave means standing up for what you believe in and for someone who is being bullied along with taking risks like for example, next summer I’ll be going to Uganda, Africa. Now 2 year’s ago I wouldn’t be doing that because I was scared about doing it and I let my emotions control me. 2 lessons that I’ve learned these past few years are. Life is a adventure and part of every adventure is taking risks and also it’s up to you on what you go through makes you stronger with God’s help or if you let Satan make you weaker. 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 says,” But he said to me my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ” I know life can be hard these past few years there have been times that I’ve wanted to give up. But honestly if it wasn’t for God, music, friends and my family. I probably would of given up a long time ago. As I finish this blog post, I just want to challenge you to really take what I’ve said to heart and to encourage at least one person or more this coming week. If you have any questions, comments or just need some advice please feel free to comment below. Thank you for reading!