If you're going through a dark and long night, feeling tired, lonely, and discouraged, remember that the Lord is standing right beside you!
"He will guide your steps and work things out for you! This is part of His plan! Keep looking up!
In Acts 23, Paul found himself in the midst of a mob between Sadducees and Pharisees who were ready to "tear him apart". But he received a word of knowledge from the Lord, causing the mob to disperse, ultimately saving him from being killed and bringing him to the barracks.
"Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks." Acts 23:10
This is the first time we see Paul discouraged. He had been in Jerusalem for a week and had started three riots. He was failing at planting churches and found himself in the midst of chaos; he had to be thrown into the dungeon to avoid being killed. During that dark, cold, and lonely night, he was probably thinking, "I've messed up so badly that God is probably done with me." He was supposed to bring the gospel to Jerusalem, but they hated him and wanted to kill him. They had to take him into protective custody just to keep him from being "shredded into pieces". But in that darkness, God came to him. When Paul thought he was done, God told Paul he wasn't finished yet. This chaos didn't catch God off guard; instead, it was going perfectly fine according to God's schedule! God knew what He was doing with Paul — He was going to keep using him!
Let's read exactly what takes place: "But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
1. The Lord stood by him:
The Lord is there with Paul, drawing closer to him. He's not done with him. See the Lord will never leave us or forsake us during our darkest times— Jesus, says: "I am with you always, even to the end of the age." It's His promise!
2. “Be of good cheer".
The Lord gives Paul what he needs: a word of encouragement. Whenever we're going through a hard time, we need to open our ears and listen to God; He's about to speak to us, and that word will encourage us to keep going, it will refresh our spirit and refuel us!
3. "You must also bear witness at Rome":
When Paul felt it was the end and faced the threat of death in the trial, God assured him not only that he would survive but also opened the door for him to bring the gospel to Rome.
God will always open a door for us!
If you are going through a dark time, remember these three things:
the Lord is standing next to you, ready to speak that encouraging word your soul needs to hear.
He's not done with you; whatever you're going through is part of His plan, and He is about to reveal your next step, he's about to open a new door for you—just like He did with Paul!
CHEER UP! We're in the midst of chaos living in this world, but we're right on schedule! That's the way it's supposed to happen, it's written! We're in God's plan, and He's about to open that door taking us to that new destination—Heaven!
That's our blessed hope, that's our promise. So keep looking up! Our King is coming!
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IF YOU ARE NOT IN CHRIST, GET SAVED!
Believe Jesus is the Son of God, who shed His blood for you, died on the cross for our sins, He was buried and resurrected during the third day, according to the Scriptures, so we can have eternal life with Him.
When you believe in Him and that He died for your sins - you're saved, justified, sealed until the day of redemption, and rapture ready!
The Holy Spirit will come to live inside of you - He will help you, guide you, change you, and be with you FOREVER!
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:16-18)
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