In Hours Of Discouragement God Is Our Encouragement

IN HOURS OF DISCOURAGEMENT
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-
FOR THE LORD IS OUR SALVATION
AND OUR STRENGTH IN EVERY FIGHT,
OUR REDEEMER AND PROTECTOR,
OUR ETERNAL GUIDING LIGHT-
HE HAS PROMISED TO SUSTAIN US,
HE'S OUR REFUGE FROM ALL HARMS,
AND UNDERNEATH THIS REFUGE,
ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS-
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 TROUBLE AND IN TRIALS,
AND IN SUFFERING AND IN SORROW
HE WILL TURN OUR TEARS TO SMILES.





BUT I WILL SING OF YOUR POWER;
YES, I WILL SING ALOUD OF YOUR
MERCY IN THE MORNING;
FOR YOU HAVE BEEN MY DEFENSE
AND REFUGE IN THE DAY OF MY TROUBLE.



PSALM 59:16
NKJV



FOR YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE;
YOU PROTECT ME FROM TROUBLE.
YOU SURROUND ME WITH SONGS OF VICTORY.



PSALM 32:7
NLT



GUARD MY SOUL AND DELIVER ME;
DO NOT LET ME BE ASHAMED,
FOR I TAKE REFUGE IN THEE.



PSALM 25:20
NAS



FOR THE LORD IS ALWAYS GOOD.
HE IS ALWAYS LOVING AND KIND,
AND HIS FAITHFULNESS GOES ON AND
ON TO EACH SUCCEEDING GENERATION.



PSALM 100:5
TLB



TRUST THE LORD, AND DO GOOD THINGS.
LIVE IN THE LAND, AND PRACTICE BEING FAITHFUL.



PSALM 37:3
GOD'S WORD



O LOVE THE LORD, ALL YOU
HIS GODLY ONES!
THE LORD PRESERVES THE FAITHFUL
AND FULLY RECOMPENSES THE PROUD DOER.



PSALM 31:23
NAS



O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD;
HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM.



PSALM 34:8
NRSV