Tag: Discouragement

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“I still believe” are a few of the most important words I jotted down in my notebook. On that particular night several years ago, as I lay in bed attempting to sleep, my mind kept racing and I could feel myself becoming discouraged. I could feel a “woe is me” moment approaching and decided to be like King David and encourage myself in the Lord (I Samuel 30:6). Although it was bedtime and I had to get up early the next morning for work, I jumped out of bed and sat at my dining room table with a pen and notebook. I could sense depression circling my bedroom like an eagle on the brink of landing, and I wasn’t having it! So I did what I’ve done before; I began to write. In fact, I’ve come to realize that some of my best work are birthed during such moments. Bible study lessons, sermons, poems, blogs. On that sheet of notebook paper I reminded myself that no matter what my circumstances may try to tell me, I must still believe. Believe what, you ask? Believe GOD!

Like any human being, sometimes I may encounter a situation that leaves me feeling disappointed, discouraged, sad, angry or even scared. However, in those moments God will whisper in my ear, “Trust Me.” It can be hard to trust God, at times, when what I see and hear is the opposite of what He has promised me. Nevertheless, I have to yet abide by Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” I have to trust that the One Who created me, the One Who knows me better than anyone, has my best interests at heart and will not leave me in the dust.

Recently, I had an experience that has elevated my faith in God. It was a Thursday evening around 6:30, and I was driving home from the gym. As I drove, my car started acting strangely. The battery light came on, the interior lights dimmed and the radio, including the clock, went off. Then my car began making noises, and the power steering suddenly stopped working. Since it was difficult to steer the car, at that point, I thought about pulling over. However, once I drove into a nearby parking lot, I decided that it might be in my best interest to try to get the car home. As I continued up the road, the traffic slowed down due to rush hour. While sitting at a traffic light, my car completely shut down. To make matters worse, I couldn’t remove my key from the ignition. Feeling helpless and scared, tears began streaming down my face. Within a couple of minutes, a few people stopped to help me, but were unable to. I found myself becoming frantic and knew I had to calm down and THINK. That was when I remembered that my car insurance includes roadside assistance. Just as I was about to make the call, an older gentleman stopped to also help. Remember the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Well, I immediately judged the man based on his physical appearance and car. He claimed to know what was wrong with my car, and I thought to myself, “You don’t know anything!” Fortunately, I was wrong! The man, whose name is Jim, turned out to be a mechanic who also tows cars. Within twenty minutes, he had my car operating efficiently enough for me to get it home. Not only did he turn out to be a mechanic, but he also happens to live near me. So, he offered to follow me home just in case I had any more problems along the way. By the grace of God, I was able to pull into my driveway just before my car shut off again. Mr. Jim then agreed to repair my car, and two days later I was back in business!

I share this story because through that particular experience, God reassured me of His protection and provision for my life. Even as I lay down to sleep that night, with tears in my eyes, I continued thanking God for taking care of me. Reflecting on that evening’s happenings, I recognized how God was with me every step of the way. For one, God did not allow my car to shut off while I was on the interstate. Also, just as I was about to pull over in a parking lot, I quickly changed my mind and kept going. God would not allow me to stop in the parking lot because He knew that Mr. Jim was coming down the road. If I had pulled over, Mr. Jim would not have seen me. In addition, Mr. Jim just so happened to be a mechanic, who tows cars and lives in my neighborhood.

None of what I just described was a coincidence. God, the Father, the Almighty, sent the RIGHT person at the RIGHT place at the RIGHT time to help me at the RIGHT price! Oh yeah, did I mention that Mr. Jim also saved me a lot of money? If I had taken my car to an auto repair shop or the dealership (as I’ve been known to do), I would have paid more than what I could really afford. God reminded me that very night that, no matter what I may be going through or facing, He ALWAYS has my back! Even as my car began shutting down right before my very eyes, God was yet whispering in my ear, “Trust Me!” Soon after, He indeed proved, as He’s done so many times in the past, that I can trust Him, and that’s why I can truly declare, “Yes Lord! I STILL believe!!!!!!!”

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