Today,

I’m discouraged,

disappointed,

and dismayed,

as I watch our nation disintegrate and our world become unrecognizable.

It’s heavy on my heart. The news is coming at us so fast, it’s hard to keep up.

Sometimes, it’s too much.

It feels like we’re on a spinning carnival ride stuck on the fastest setting.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 describe how things would be in these days – not good. The evil in this world creates a heavy weight in the Christian’s heart.

What do we do?

We keep our focus on God and guard our hearts from the discouragement.

We can’t throw in the towel.

We can’t stick our heads in the sand.

We need to serve the Lord until He comes.

That looks different for each Christian.

Be obedient to whatever He has called you to do.

God has used Christians like you and me in each generation. We are all here for such a time as this. It’s no accident you are living in 2024.

When times of fear and uncertainty invade our thoughts and overtake our hearts, focus on our eternal future.

I believe in the rapture, the Bible explains how it will happen for Believers:

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NKJV)

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

We have so much to look forward to!

John 14:1-3 (NKJV)

1 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Be encouraged.

Be hopeful.

But most of all, be ready.

No one knows when they will draw their last breath.

Dear Lord, encourage our hearts today and provide the strength we need to serve You until you come for us.

If you want to lift your spirits through music, check out The King Is Coming (youtube.com) sung by the Gaither Vocal Band.

For more verses on this subject, see 2 Timothy 3:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-4, Luke 21:34-36, 2 Timothy 4:8  

*Originally posted in Do You Feel as Beaten Down as I Do? - by Kate Dreston (substack.com)