God’s Encouragement in Tough Times

READ | Judges 7:8-26

Yesterday, we read about how God shrunk Gideon’s army down from 32,000 men to just 300, immediately before an important battle. Today, let’s see what happened next. Gideon was undoubtedly feeling anxious. He was about to attack an enemy camp of more than 130,000 trained soldiers, and he was going to do it with just a handful of men. In this terrifying moment, God gave Gideon what he needed most: encouragement.

God woke Gideon at night and strategically positioned him to overhear an enemy soldier recounting a frightful dream—a vision of Israelite victory! This unlikely circumstance assured Gideon that the Lord was at work in his daunting situation. God graciously used that incident to demonstrate His sensitivity to one man’s faintheartedness. And He still does so today.

Consider the power of a friend’s encouraging words. Think about how meaningful it is when an unexpected blessing seems to fall from heaven right at your darkest moment. These are not “happy accidents”; rather, they are precious confidence builders from God.

Our challenge is simply to remember times in the past when our loving heavenly Father has encouraged us. Standing on the evidence of His faithfulness, we can boldly face the future, knowing that we’re not alone.

As inhabitants of a fallen world, we will at times face heartache, intimidation, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But as children of God, saved and secure in Christ Jesus, we are never beyond reach of the Lord’s encouragement.



From: InTouch - Early Light Devotionals