FAITH CAPSULE: Is there any reason for discouragement and worrying in your life?

Numbers 21: 4-9, Matthew 6:25-34

The word of God is more than enough to encourage us and not to dwell in discouragement. Philippians 4:6-7 buttressed, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Discouragement is not of God it is a maneuver of enemy. It is discouragement that will expose man and set man for self-destruction. Often times, discouragement is rooted in worrying. Jesus specifically warned against worrying stating, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?” (Matthew 6:25-27)
Is there any reason for worrying in your life?
When worrying is established as a result of needs, discouragement shall take charge in attempt to destroy. The children of Israel saw the deliverance of God as He brought them out of the bondage of over four hundred. God gave them word of promise for the Promised Land but yet, worrying provoked discouragement for their destruction. The bible recorded the cause and consequence of discouragement of the Israelites, “Then they journeyed from Mount Hor by the Way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the soul of the people became very discouraged on the way.  And the people spoke against God and against Moses: “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and our soul loathes this worthless bread.”  So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died.” (Numbers 21:4-6)
The case of the deadly bite was due to discouragement that was rooted in worrying and complaint. The Israelites complained against the quality of bread provided for them by the Almighty God. God’s provision was not satisfied enough for the Israelites. Does that sound like your case? The Israelites also complained for the lack of water. Complaining made the Israelites to name the quality of the provision of God worthless. Indeed a worthless complaint caused them a worthless death. By knowing and understanding the awesome hand of God, be encouraged and not be discouraged; engage worshipping God but not worry; above all, be still and know that God alone is God.

Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to deny discouragement and worrying in your life.