Saturday, July 18, 2009

Discouragement...






















(Green Pastures Oil Painting by NewCreatioNZ)

Today, I felt rather discouraged... Honestly, things are not going so well. My plan of going back to school is heading no where, and I'm not sure what is the right thing to do with my life meanwhile.

Whenever I'm sad or lonely, I often read the book of Psalms in the Bible, especially the psalms of lamentations. Somehow, I see myself in the psalmists' pains and sorrows and thus find comfort and eventually joy... Psalm 22 is what I've read today. Besides the groaning of the psalmist, this Psalm is also a prophecy of Christ's crucifixion... It is indeed a divine intervention that Psalm 22 is followed by Psalm 23, a psalm of assurance and peace. Salvation has come, and after all, that's more than enough for me to continue to trust Him and stand strong...

Hope that this familiar Psalm will also bring you encouragement anew...

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.

He guides me in path of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
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1 comment:

  1. Thank you for the encouragement we all need at times and the reminder that we have to look no further than God and His word. Thank you also for using my painting "Green Pastures". I hope its a blessing to others along with your encouragement!

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