These days in which we live can be discouraging.  Sickness, pain and death seem to always be constant companions.  There are many of our friends and family fighting and dying for our freedoms.  And our nation is seemingly drifting further and further away from the godly principles upon which it was founded.

But I would like to mention just four things that should be and will always be  encouraging. We would do well to remember these and  doing so will help us to avoid worry, bitterness, or despondency.

 FACT # 1: “There is a God in Heaven”

“But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…” (Daniel 2:28). John Greenleaf Whittier said, “God is…and all is well”.  J.S. Fear in his poem, “Beautiful Isle Somewhere” wrote: “Somewhere the sun is shining, Somewhere the songbirds dwell. Hush, then, thy sad repining, God lives and all is well.”   Robert Browning wrote: “God is in His heaven, all is right with the world”.  This is true for the Children of God.  If anyone should be strengthened to know that  God is in heaven is should be us who claim to be His children!

FACT # 2: “The Most High Rules in the Kingdom of Men”

“The most high rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whoever he will” (Daniel 4:17).“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, And the people who He  has chosen as His inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12).  He did not say blessed is the nation with the most people or most powerful army, or the most nuclear weapons… Indeed God has blessed America. But many times America is not grateful.  We need to be a penitent, thankful, and righteous people for our souls sake but also for the sake of our nation.

 FACT #3: “The Lord thy God is a Merciful God”

“For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath” (Deut. 4:31). Merciful and merciless are next to each other in the dictionary but are worlds apart in meaning.  Just as God’s mercy is often worlds apart from the mercy we extend to others.

FACT # 4: “God Will Never Leave or Forsake You”

“Let your conduct be without covetousness and be content with such  things as you have.  For he Himself said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).  Think about being the hospital with your small child and promising them you would not leave their side. A nurse asks you to leave - what do you tell her? “I made a promise and I intend to keep it.”  That is the promise God has made to you…no matter the circumstance, the pain, the problem…He will be there to help, comfort and strengthen. God can’t leave you or forsake you – He gave His word!!

May these facts from the word of God comfort you always.

Richard O'Connor