Eternal Encouragement And Good Hope

May 20

There are times when man’s best intentions simply don’t cut it. Though a word of encouragement is uttered, though a hand of help is extended, though heartfelt praise is offered, the recipient of the well-intentioned grace is simply not helped.

There are trials in life that are beyond human capacity to remedy on ones own or to be alleviated by the kind motivation of ones friends. There are some circumstances of life that are simply too much to handle apart from help extended by the living Christ. And when His help is needed, He’s always there.

Paul recognized the need for and availability of such divine intervention into the affairs of men. He stated as much in II Thessalonians 2: 16, 17 where he said, “May the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loves us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”

May we be quick to offer this kind of encouragement to others who are bent down by life’s weighty burdens and may we be quick to reach out to Him in our own times of need. We must take strength from Paul’s assertion that God’s encouragement is eternal and that the hope He gives is good. As it was to the people in Thessalonica, it will be a source of strength to us.