The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Dear Discouraged,
I heard your discouragement and in our moment of shared brokenness we had nothing to offer each other. Instead, we discovered something—discouragement grows in isolation.
But God has something for else for us. 
Psalm 34:17-18 says, “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them.” This phrase is plural, not singular. “Cry out” is translated from tsa`aq. It means to shriek; to proclaim (an assembly). It can also be translated as a Hebrew idiom that means to call together, cry (out), or gather (selves) (together).
Jesus himself told us, “If two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”
It’s interesting to note that he told us this during a lesson on dealing with sin.
WE ARE NOT ALONE
Dealing with sin, both ours and the sin of others, can be discouraging. And isolation will only nurture discouragement and confusion. But there is good news.
God is not a God of confusion. He is a God of peace. 1 Corinthians 14:33
God has not abandoned us to struggle in the dark alone. He has directed us to confess our own sins to other Christians. He gives us procedures to follow for sin against us or against others.
God has given us everything we need for battle. He directs our way and prays over our path.
He cautions and directs us. Are we listening?
He speaks into our spirit that very moment is a Jesus moment. Every struggle is an opportunity to live as Jesus lived. Every confrontation is a chance to fulfill Luke 6:31. “Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.”
He speaks into our spirit that very moment is a Jesus moment. Every struggle is an opportunity to live as Jesus lived. #devotional #christianlife Click To TweetTHE GOLDEN RULE
Let us not apply a superficial understanding to Jesus’ words. Can we truly examine the thought? How do we want others to treat us?
Do we desire to be treated with honor and dignity? “Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.” 1 Peter 2:17
Do we want to be treated with truth or flattery? “He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.” Proverbs 28:23
Do we want to be treated with kindness or harshness? “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1
Do we want to be treated as responsible adults or as infants who are only capable of sitting in their mess until someone else cleans it up? “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14
As we look inward, consider Paul’s words to Timothy. Paul told Timothy to be diligent and to present himself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
Dear Discouraged,
Are we looking at every problem as an opportunity to employ diligence? To show by the beautiful blending of effort and faith that we have nothing to be ashamed of?
Are we looking at every problem as an opportunity to employ diligence? To show by the beautiful blending of effort and faith that we have nothing to be ashamed of? #faith #devotional Click To TweetCan we move from confusion to an accurate handling of the word of truth?
In diligence, maturity, and preparation can we move from being confused in situations to accurately handling the word of truth, regardless of emotion or surroundings or circumstances?
Yes, we’ve lost some battles. The enemy’s attacks were strategic and powerful. We took our eyes off the prize and succumbed to the fight. We fell into confusion.
But God was there. 
The Lord is picking us back up and saying, “Be strong in MY might.”
He is next to us, our most trustworthy armor bearer. He places the sword back in our hand and readjusts our breastplate. He makes our feet to stand firm again. He whispers in our ear to set our eyes back on the prize and reminds us who our fight is really against.
FIGHT THE FIGHT, WIN THE RACE
What is the prize we are fighting for? It isn’t health. It isn’t prosperity. It isn’t happiness. It isn’t restored relationships. Those things will fall into place if the Lord wills when we put him first.
The prize is holiness. The prize is Jesus’ face. The prize is eternal glory. The prize is finishing this race that has been set before us.
It’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. Maybe right now it feels like trudging through mud. And in the middle of the muck we can forget who our struggle is really against.
Jesus didn’t forget. When Peter’s words threatened confusion and tried to derail his race, our Lord had clear eyes on the problem’s source.
But He [Jesus] turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Matthew 16:23
Let us see with Jesus’ eyes, the real enemy, so that we can stay the course and set our mind on God’s interests. Let us become more like Christ. Let us love one another as Christ loved us, laying down our life. Click To TweetWHEN DISCOURAGEMENT SETS IN
What encouragement can we give one another when we are tempted to lose hope?
In Ephesians 3 Paul writes to the church at Ephesus, telling them not to lose heart as they see his tribulations on their behalf. Then he prays the most beautiful prayer for them.
Paul’s tribulation was for their glory. Perhaps our struggle, if surrendered to God, will be worked out for someone else’s glory. And we, in our moment of discouragement can pray with Paul that our brothers and/or sisters will be strengthened with power, that Christ will dwell in their hearts, that they will be rooted and grounded in love.
What an amazing hope. Our holiness for their glory.
Paul ends his prayer with this:
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Stand firm. Don’t lose heart. God is able to do far above all we can imagine—according to the power that works within us. Are we submitted to him?
As we walk as Children of the Light together, we walk out of isolation and into hope and glory. 
I have repeated to myself so many times that our God is NOT a God of confusion. That has brought me such peace and helped in making so many decisions. This was a beautiful article and great reminder to keep walking forward, trusting God that His purpose is good.
Thank you, Emily. It’s wonderful to know that God desires to give us clarity and order in our lives and minds.
As I go through a time of arthritis pain, I get discouraged easily. I can’t type on the computer as often. I can’t hold books as much as I want to hold them, etc. Yet, even through discouragement, I know He is with me and He loves me. All is well with my soul. 🙂
Thank you for sharing that with me, Melissa. I wasn’t aware that you struggled with arthritis. I’ll be praying for strength for you and encouragement in your life. Thank you for sharing your ministry with all of us even through your pain.
Thank you, dear Stephanie, for this Biblically based truth and encouragement for our souls! I love how you wove together so beautifully our questions, thoughts and needs with God’s answers from His Word. May His Voice speak a louder word over our sin, discouragement and defeat! Jesus is victor! And we stand once more by His power alone!
I appreciate your words, Melissa. They are always such a refreshment. What a wonderful prayer, “May His Voice speak a louder word over our sin, discouragement, and defeat.”
Discouragement always seems so close by when things don’t go our way. Our faith wants our Jesus to be the genie in the bottle to grant us every wish. Someday, in heaven, we will understand more fully.
That is such a true observation, Yvonne. How small our faith is and how big the results that Jesus want to deliver by testing and discipline. Thank you for the reminder.
‘Dear Encourager. Thank you for adding clarity and perspective when I planned to disengage. I had no hope because I didn’t recognize the truth of God’s care and promises.’
These are uplifting verses and Bible stories, Stephanie. I especially like Ephesians 3. I think of Gideon, that great war hero who thought nothing of himself or his family, and gave up all hope. He accepted defeat and believed the lies of the enemy, but God saw in his immediate future bravery, deliverance, and victory.
Thank you for this encouragement, Stephanie.
Oh wow. What a powerful addendum, Stephen. “God saw in his immediate future bravery, deliverance, and victory.” I love it! Thank you for sharing.
Love this: “What is the prize we are fighting for? It isn’t health. It isn’t prosperity. It isn’t happiness. It isn’t restored relationships. Those things will fall into place if the Lord wills when we put him first.
“The prize is holiness. ”
Amen and alleluia! God bless!
Thank you for your encouragement, Nancy.
Beautiful Stephanie on unpacking what our true goal should be. Satan definitely gets us distracted, but discouragement comes when we focus the wrong direction. Thank you for these verses!