Courage, Encouragement, God's Promises, Life, Perseverence, Prayer, Relationship to Christ, Strength, Struggles, Trust

God Helps Us Overcome Obstacles

Sometimes life seems to hit us with one thing after another.  I currently have friends who are going through very difficult times, and my heart breaks for them. Today’s Bible Journaling Scripture encourages us when it seems like if one more thing hits us, we will crumble.  “For who is God besides the Lord?  And who is a rock? Only our God. God—He clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect.” (Psalm 18:31-32 CSB)  This verse gives me so much encouragement because it tells me that when I feel like I’m going to sink under the weight of my circumstances, GOD gives me the strength to persevere. I know my friends will come through on the other side of their situations because God is walking with them and giving them the strength to endure.  They also trust Him to help them, and they look to Him for the answer to their prayers.

No one ever said this life was easy, but God encourages us, walks with us, and EQUIPS us in HIS strength so that we can come out on the other side victorious.  David knew what it was like to have obstacles in his life.  As a boy, he fought bears and lions to protect the sheep, and he had to fight the giant Goliath armed with a sling and five stones, He was on the run when King Saul was out to kill him, and later when David was King, his son, Absalom, tried to overthrow him as king over Israel.  All through that, David was able to say that it was God who gave him strength through those situations.  David knew where his strength came from.  David knew he could trust God to help him through it all.

When it seems like we just can’t take one more step, or we can’t get over the obstacle in our path, we must remember what the Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13 ESV)  Paul was persecuted and imprisoned for preaching to the churches about Jesus.  Despite this, he knew that it was Jesus Christ who helped him through each hardship. 

God promises that He will help us and give us the strength to endure, to conquer any obstacle we encounter.  “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you,  For I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10 NASB 1995)  We don’t have to worry or be afraid because we know He is with us.  The Israelites, under Moses’ direction, needed encouragement because they were afraid to go into the Promised Land.  The spies had come back with a report of giants in the land and the people were terrified.  But Moses tells them, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)  The Israelites were so afraid of going into the land God had promised them, that He had to let them know they would not be alone.  He would be with them and give them the strength, courage, and ability to win each encounter against the inhabitants of the land. 

Sometimes the obstacles in front of us look like huge mountains and we can quickly become overwhelmed. God helps us in those times. He doesn’t leave us to fend for ourselves, but He walks with us, strengthening us as we take the next step.  We need to remember that, as our Scripture says, “He clothes me with strength and makes my way perfect.”  Be encouraged.  The obstacle you face is just a temporary setback.  God is with you, and He will give you the strength and perseverance to move forward in your journey with Him.

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Donna Knuth Rice

I am trying a blog for the first time in my life, and frankly, I feel like I don't have a clue as to what I'm doing! But, here goes. I work at a Christian Television network in the Correspondence Department, where I write letters and emails to our viewers, pray with them for their needs, and send materials they request. I am a Christian. I was saved at the age of 11 during a youth meeting at my church. My pastor led me to the Lord, and to say the least, my life has been an adventure. I am a widow. My late husband, Allen, passed away after 34 1/2 years of marriage. He had been sick the last seven years of his life, and it was a struggle, for him and for me. We met as part of a singing group that was affiliated with a Christian Radio station, and we sang together all through our lives together. We both worked in television and radio all through our married life, mostly for Christian stations. Besides singing I also play flute. I had the luxury of having parents who started out as music teachers...so music was in our house constantly. Some people describe me as being a loud-mouthed lime type...can't disagree with that. I have a tendency to put my foot in my mouth more times than I can count! I also have a tendency to say exactly what's on my mind...which is why I get myself in so much trouble! LOL! Trust me, that's something me and God have been working on for a very long time. I have no children here on earth, although I have a baby in heaven. My baby here is my dog Jack. He's a black lab/ chow mix. He's a big boy....thinks he's a lap dog! Can't think of much else to say. The reason I started this blog is because a few months ago in church, a guest pastor came and delivered a message, and when he asked for those of us who wanted prayer to come forward, I did. When he came to me he asked me if I did any journaling. I told him no 'cause I wasn't very good at it. He told me to start, and prophesied over me that my journal thoughts would impact other people. I wasn't sure just how I was to go about doing this. In fact, I was a little hesitant at first. I started journaling at home, and our assistant pastor's wife asked me to submit something for our Senior newsletter. I didn't the first edition, but something I had heard on Christian radio a long time ago and has stuck with me all these years, came to mind so I submitted an article. That article will be my first post. I don't claim to have all the answers, and my thoughts may seem a little "out there", but I feel God has been prodding me to do this, and so here I am. I hope what I post will bring encouragement, and "Something to Think About".

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