Today we are going to go to God and look at Bible verses that encourage us to have peace in this difficult world.
There are seasons in life when pressures mount, to-do lists never cease, and our minds are consumed with endless worries. Financial strain, relationship challenges, managing family schedules, ministry, social calendars, self-care, and world news plague us daily. When I wake up, I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the daily demands that I balance, and soon become discouraged. Life can weigh us down and have us feeling isolated, despondent, and seeking hope.
There is good news. When we feel discouraged, God’s Word encourages and uplifts our minds and spirits, reminding us that we are not alone, and that God is the lifter of our souls. When we are discouraged, reading and reconnecting with God’s promises in the Bible is essential.
Here are some promises of God to encourage you when you feel discouraged:
1. You Are Not Alone
When we feel discouraged with the world’s weight on our shoulders, God’s Word promises us that we are not alone. God is always with us, strengthening us and leading us daily.
Joshua 1:9 states, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
In Joshua 1:9, God reassures us that He will be with us wherever we go. God is ever-present during joyous and challenging seasons and has our best interests at heart. God’s presence covers us when we are uncertain about what the next day will bring or how a circumstance will work out. During isolating and overwhelming times, God promises us we are not alone and will guide us.
Today, I invite you to give thanks that God is always with you and will walk with you when you feel discouraged.
2. God Will Provide All Your Needs
When we are anxious or discouraged about how a physical, financial, spiritual, or emotional need will be met, God promises in His Word that He will supply all our needs.
Philippians 4:19 states, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
In addition to tangible needs like food, shelter, and clothing, God provides us wisdom, healing, love, joy, peace, and patience. When our focus and spirit need to be reassured and redirected back to God, He promises He has everything we need. When we are discouraged by what we see or our current situation, God will encourage our faith and spirit. We must stay connected to God who strengthens us through prayer, worship, and reading the Word. Remembering God’s faithfulness in the past and how He has supplied all your needs previously will encourage you when your spirit is discouraged. If you are struggling to remain encouraged, I invite you to cling to the promise that God will continue to supply all your needs.
3. God Is Faithful
We often lose sight of God’s faithfulness when we are discouraged. We can become easily frustrated when things aren’t going the way we envision and temporarily forget how God has been faithful to us previously. Despite how discouraged we become or how far we go from God, God remains faithful.
2 Timothy 2:13 states, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful.”
God remains faithful to who He is, how He provides, and His consistent presence in our lives. When we are discouraged about the way forward, I encourage you to think back to God’s faithfulness in your life. Take comfort in knowing that God has not abandoned you, and He will not start now.
4. God Loves You
Another essential promise to remind ourselves when we feel discouraged is that God unconditionally loves us. God loves us with everlasting love despite our feelings, anxieties, or doubts (Jeremiah 21:3). When we are discouraged and seeking encouragement for our soul, remembering how much God loves us can renew and restore us. God loves us so much that He gave His only Son to die for us and forgive our sins (John 3:16).
There is nothing we can do or say that can ever keep us from God’s unconditional love. God’s love heals, convicts, revitalizes, and unifies us. We don’t have to work for or earn God’s love. God freely loves us and desires for us to come to Him during our difficult and discouraging times. Today, we can receive God’s love and let it refresh your mind and spirit.
5. God Still Has a Purpose for Your Life
Despite our discouraging seasons, the good news is that God still has a specific plan and purpose for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11). Personally, I become discouraged when God’s planned timetable doesn’t match my desired timetable. However, I’m quickly encouraged that God does have a unique plan for me. My job is to trust God and let Him lead me one day at a time. Despite the obstacles or waiting you may face, I invite you to be encouraged that God’s plans for you have not changed and will happen in God’s timing. We don’t have to know the outcome, but we can be encouraged that God has a great Master plan. Although it may look challenging right now, be encouraged that God’s plan will be fulfilled in your life.
Life has many daily challenges that we face that can cause us to become discouraged, disillusioned, and distant. Despite the discouragement that will come, there is hope in God’s Word and the promises that He gives. Remember that God is always with you, will provide all your needs, unconditionally loves you, and has an amazing plan for your life.
Verses that Encourage Us to Have Peace in This Difficult World
So when we hear of another shooting, more political unrest, continued racism, multiplying abortions, another teen taking his life, war and turmoil. How do we handle this? How do we respond to the darkness and evil in this world? Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed and hopeless today. Perhaps you do not know what to do with your fears or grief over the state of our world?
Courage
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Why are we surprised? Jesus told us that we would have trouble in this world, but to take heart because He has overcome the world. What does take heart mean? Webster’s Dictionary tells us it means, “To gain courage or confidence.” This is not self-confidence or manmade courage. The Biblical concept of taking heart in the Greek tells us it means, “To gain courage or confidence.” This is not self-confidence or manmade courage. This is found in three places: Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50 and John 16:33.
The references of Matthew and Mark are the recordings of Jesus walking on the water. The disciples see Him and are afraid that He is a ghost. Jesus replies take courage. In their great fear and uncertainty, Jesus was there to remind them not to live in a state of anxiety, but to hope in Him. In the Mark 6:50 reference, Jesus even says it like this, “Take courage! It is me. Don’t be afraid.”
We can take courage because it is Jesus. He loves us, He is with us, and He calls us to the hard things with Him. We are never alone.
Peace
John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Jesus tells us that He has left us with not just any peace, but His peace. He is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father on the throne and His Holy Spirit resides within the hearts of every believer (John 14:26). The Fruits of the Spirit include peace. It is only by the peace which the Spirit gives that we can face the hardships of this world in victory. We can live victoriously because He already has.
Our hearts and minds can be focused on our fears and worries, or we can focus on our God and the rest that He gives us for our souls. Suddenly, when we look around and see circumstances that are evil and ugly, we can invite Him into the situations and welcome His presence of peace that we always have access to in our lives.
Endurance
Matthew 24:4-8 “Jesus answered, ‘See to it that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.’”
What we are witnessing these days are the last days. How long they will continue, only God the Father knows, but we can trust that He is working everything according to His plan. We can trust and lean on Him. When we see or hear of false teachers, or learn about wars, we do not have to be wondering what God is doing. When we witness nation against nation and natural disasters occurring, we do not have to figure out why. We know because He has revealed by His Word that these would happen as a result of a sinful world, but also as time moves towards the end days.
Just like labour pains reveal the coming new birth, these earthly “labour pains” reveal the new life of heaven to come. The misery, hardship, and agony may last for a short time, but then the joy of faith becoming sight will be revealed. Psalm 30:5 says, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Security
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
We are able to find temporary peace from things in this world. Many of them are good things such as walks, deep breathing, listening to the ocean, or playing calming music. However, these are not lasting. God promises us that He keeps us in perfect peace. He is the only one to promise this. It is the gift of knowing that we are eternally secure and safe in His arms.
This type of peace is something that all believers have access to, however this verse is clear that trust in Him is key. It is like someone offering you a glass of water when you are parched, it is there, but you have to take it to receive its benefits.
God Is Sovereign
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Lastly, we can rest in the truth that God’s peace is more than we can humanly comprehend. He is the One who protects our hearts and our minds in Jesus. Where our thoughts worry and are consumed by the troubles of this life, He reminds us that He is sovereign over all. Where our hearts feel discouraged and tempted to despair, He refreshes us with His constant presence.
So what’s on your mind? What is troubling you? How can knowing Christ enable you to take on the difficulties around you and rest in Him to be holding the world even during its chaos and strife? He has overcome, take heart.
When you feel discouraged, I invite you to stay connected to God, seek community, and remember God’s faithfulness. God desires for us to draw closer to Him and His Word to gain wisdom, strength, and encouragement for the days ahead. Due to God’s great love and concern for His children, He will not leave us discouraged without providing a way to overcome. We are victorious in Christ Jesus, and God’s new mercies are new every morning. Do not let discouragement have the final say. Let God lead you and the Holy Spirit within our souls let me encourage you to keep moving forward. God has given us the victory to overcome.
Lesson was delivered to you by: Bro. Robert H Brown
