Courage. We all need some of that as we venture through
life. Clouds come at every turn to darken our spirits and keep us low. Yet
God’s mercy follows us wherever we go. Always available. Always fresh. Always welcome.
We just need to get above those clouds that are dark and
scary. For me, reading in the Psalms
helps me do that. I go to Psalm 42:5 and Psalm 61:1-2:
Psalm 42:5: “Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Put your
hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 61:1-2: “Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
From the end of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead
me to the Rock that is higher than I.”
Once I repeat those verses again and again, my heart responds,
and I start to refocus on God’s strength and love.
His mercies are BIG! “The Lord has heard my cry for
mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.” Psalm 6:9
I find my fear subsides, my courage returns, and the clouds
are rolled away. Many of us will be familiar with the words “Courage, dear
heart,” written by C. S. Lewis in his famous work: “The Voyage of the
Dawn Treader”, book 5 from the Chronicles of Narnia. I have a small
dish with those words on it to remind me my courage will return with God’s
help.
Sometimes it takes a while before my mind is led to read those
verses, but eventually God directs my thoughts to find them. They make me feel
so much better. The concern may still be there, but God’s word puts my concern
in its place and allows me to move forward in a more positive frame of mind.
Find your words of relief in God’s Word. Underline them.
Highlight them. Remember where they are. And remember, the clouds are big with
mercy, and shall break In blessings on your head.
By His Grace . . .
