God Is Our Encouragement

GOD IS OUR ENCOURAGEMENT

by HELEN STEINER RICE



SOMETIMES WE FEEL UNCERTAIN
AND UNSURE OF EVERYTHING-
AFRAID TO MAKE DECISIONS,
DREADING WHAT THE DAY WILL BRING,
WE KEEP WISHING IT WERE POSSIBLE
TO DISPEL ALL FEAR AND DOUBT
AND TO UNDERSTAND MORE READILY
JUST WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT.
GOD HAS GIVEN US THE ANSWERS,
WHICH TOO OFTEN GO UNHEEDED,
BUT IF WE SEARCH HIS PROMISES
WE'LL FIND EVERYTHING THAT'S NEEDED
TO LIFT OUR FALTERING SPIRITS
AND RENEW OUR COURAGE TOO,
FOR THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NOTHING
TOO MUCH FOR GOD TO DO
SO CAST YOUR BURDEN ON HIM,
SEEK HIS COUNSEL WHEN DISTRESSED,
AND GO TO HIM FOR COMFORT!
WHEN YOU'RE LONELY AND OPPRESSED.
FOR GOD IS OUR ENCOURAGEMENT
IN TROUBLES AND IN TRIALS,
AND IN SUFFERING AND IN SORROW
HE WILL TURN OUR TEARS TO SMILES.





"WHEN YOU PASS THROUGH THE WATERS I
WILL BE WITH YOU; AND THROUGH THE RIVERS,
THEY SHALL NOT OVERWHELM YOU; WHEN YOU
WALK THROUGH FIRE YOU SHALL NOT BE BURNED,
AND THE FLAME SHALL NOT CONSUME YOU."



ISAIAH 43:2







HE WHO FORMS THE HEARTS OF ALL,
WHO CONSIDERS EVERYTHING THEY DO.



PSALM 33:15
NIV



SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVINGKINDNESS WILL
FOLLOW ME ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE, AND I WILL
DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.



PSALM 23:6
NAS



THE LORD LOVES RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE;
THE EARTH IS FULL OF HIS UNFAILING LOVE.



PSALM 33:5
NIV



THE LORD LOVES JUSTICE,
AND HE WILL NOT ABANDON HIS GODLY ONES.
THEY WILL BE KEPT SAFE FOREVER, BUT THE
DESCENDANTS OF WICKED PEOPLE WILL BE CUT OFF.



PSALM 37:28
GOD'S WORD



POUR OUT YOUR UNFAILING LOVE ON
THOSE WHO KNOW YOU! NEVER STOP
GIVING YOUR SALVATION TO THOSE WHO
LONG TO DO YOUR WILL.



PSALM 36:10
TLB



ALL THE PATHS OF THE LORD ARE
STEADFAST LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS,
FOR THOSE WHO KEEP HIS COVENANT
AND HIS DECREES.



PSALM 25:10
NRSV