Tag Archives: Proverbs

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

We Can Go to Bed Without Fear

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Sleepless nights. You are lying there tossing and turning, your mind replaying the problems of the day. The worries are certainly enough to keep you awake. From financial struggles to uncertain decisions about the future, it can feel as though the troubles of life are prowling outside your window, waiting for the right moment to overwhelm you. Fear and insecurity often become the dominant emotions of the night, but Solomon reminds us they do not have to be.

He writes in Proverbs 3:

“You can go to bed without fear;
you will lie down and sleep soundly.
You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
for the LORD is your security.
He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.”

Our trust in the Lord brings security. It gives us confidence that He has everything under control, even when life feels uncertain. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God has always been a master at solving problems.

The Israelites stood trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, and God parted the sea to make a way through. When they wandered in the wilderness without food or water, He provided manna from Heaven and water from a rock. He sent ravens to feed Elijah, directed Naaman to healing waters, and ultimately sent His Son into the world to solve mankind’s greatest problem — separation from God because of sin.

The Bible says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” God’s answer to humanity’s greatest need was Jesus, and that same God still watches over us today with the same attention, care, and compassion.

Troubles and difficult seasons are part of life. None of us are exempt from them. Yet God’s faithfulness is just as certain. He is still working, still providing, and still making a way where there seems to be none. Because of that, our sleepless nights can become restful ones.

But how do we actually live this out in everyday life?

One practical step is to identify what is truly weighing on your heart. Many times, anxiety feels overwhelming because it is undefined. Instead of carrying a general feeling of fear, pause and honestly ask yourself what is troubling you most. Is it finances? A relationship? Your health? The future? Once you identify it, bring that specific burden to God in prayer.

Another important step is remembering how God has already been faithful. The same God who parted seas and provided in the wilderness has likely carried you through difficult seasons before. Spend time reflecting on the moments when God made a way in your own life. Looking back at His faithfulness can strengthen your confidence for today’s challenges.

It is also important to stop trying to solve tomorrow’s problems in the middle of the night. Many sleepless nights come because we are attempting to control situations we cannot fix at that moment. Rest is not laziness; sometimes rest is an act of trust. Choosing to sleep is choosing to believe that God is still working, even while you are resting.

When fear begins to rise, replace panic with prayer. Your prayer does not need to sound polished or perfect. Even a simple prayer such as, “Lord, I am afraid, but I trust You,” can redirect your focus from fear to faith.

Filling your mind with God’s truth also matters. Before bed, spend time reading passages like Psalm 91, Proverbs 3, or Psalm 4 instead of ending the day consumed by worry, bad news, or endless scrolling. What fills your mind often shapes your peace.

Finally, focus on taking the next faithful step rather than demanding the entire plan. God often guided His people one step at a time. He gave Israel manna for the day, direction when they needed it, and strength for the moment they were in. You may not have every answer about tomorrow, but you can trust Him with today.

Psalm 4:8 says:

“In peace I will lie down and sleep,
for you alone, O LORD, will keep me safe.”

The problems surrounding you may still be real, but God’s presence is greater than the pressure you feel. The same God who solved impossible problems throughout Scripture is still at work in your life today. Because of that, you can move forward with confidence, rest in His care, and trust that you are never carrying your burdens alone.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Hard But Worth It

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Get Encouraged available on Spotify!

“Trust the Lord,” Scripture says.

It may be the hardest thing we do, but it can also be the most rewarding. It may be made even more difficult by our life experience. Our heartbreaks suffered by trusting other people may have taught us we shouldn’t trust anyone, yet the Bible helps us see we can trust the Lord.

Isaiah 26:4 says, “Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”

Unlike others, the Lord is our eternal rock. He is unshakable, unmovable, and unchangeable. He will not lead us astray or walk out on us, so we can trust him and count on him to be there for us. We can trust him to be there, keeping his promises, and doing what he says he will do. “Trust in the Lord,” Scripture says, and…

  • You will have peace as the Lord can provided peace in Christ Jesus that goes beyond human understanding.
  • Your paths in life will be straight as the Lord guides your steps and directs your movements.
  • You will have a fullness of life that can only be found in Christ Jesus.
  • You will have an eternal place prepared by Jesus. He says, “I am going to prepare a place for you, and if I prepare a place for you, I will come back to take you with me so you also may be where I am.”

It may be hard, but it is certainly rewarding to trust in the Lord.

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Sleepless Nights Can Become Restful Ones

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Check out the latest episode of Get Encouraged on Spotify!

Finding Peace After Life's Mistakes – Quick Encouragement from getencouraged.blog

Life can sometimes feel as if it is spilled water. Past mistakes and words we wish we could take back soaking into the ground beyond our control. Moments like these can be met with encouragement from Scripture.Visit https://getencouraged.blog for more.
  1. Finding Peace After Life's Mistakes
  2. Don’t Worry, Be Peaceful
  3. When God Fights Beside You
  4. The Great Time Taker
  5. Navigating Change

Sleepless nights; you’re lying there, tossing and turning. Your mind is focused on the problems of the day; they are certainly enough to keep you awake at night. From the financial struggles of a pandemic to the decision about a new job, it seems the world’s troubles are prowling outside your window just waiting for an opportune time to pounce. Fear and insecurity are the dominant feelings of the evening, but Solomon reminds us they need not be.

He writes in Proverbs 3:

“You can go to bed without fear;
    you will lie down and sleep soundly.
 You need not be afraid of sudden disaster
    or the destruction that comes upon the wicked,
 for the Lord is your security.
    He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.”

Our trust in the Lord can bring us security. It can bring confidence of knowing he has everything under control. Just look at how he’s handled problems in the past.

  • The people of Israel were caught between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, so the Lord’s solution was to part the sea, giving the Israelites a dry way across.
  • When Israel was in the desert with no food or water, God solved the problem by dropping Manna from Heaven and providing water from a rock.
  • The Lord sent ravens to feed Elijah, Naaman to the muddy waters of a river, …

And a baby to a manger to solve the biggest problem mankind has ever experienced. Mankind separated from God because of sin was the problem, and God’s solution was his son, Jesus. The Bible says, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” The Lord has been a master at problem-solving.

Each problem has been met with confidence, security, and compassion. Each one solved in a way only God could. The same God who took care of these problems is watching over us. He is handling our troubles with as much attention and detail. From the smallest of troubles to the biggest of problems, God solves each one in a way only he can. We only need to trust him.

As the Psalmist says in Psalm 91:

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
    will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare about the Lord:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
    he is my God, and I trust him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
    and protect you from deadly disease.
He will cover you with his feathers.
    He will shelter you with his wings.
    His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
    nor the arrow that flies in the day.
Do not dread the disease that stalks in darkness,
    nor the disaster that strikes at midday.

The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me.
    I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
    I will be with them in trouble.
    I will rescue and honor them.
I will reward them with a long life
    and give them my salvation.”

Troubles and problems are almost a guarantee. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t experienced these types of seasons in life. If we trust him, the Lord’s security is also a guarantee. He will put his master problem-solving skills to work, and those sleepless nights can become restful ones. Psalm 4:8 concludes, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”

Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Don’t Jump to Conclusions

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There’s an old story, as recalled by Max Lucado, about an elderly man in a small village who owned a valuable horse. It was a white horse, and it was worth much money. Many people tried to buy the horse, but the gentleman was not interested in parting with the horse. To him, the white stud was a close friend.

One morning the horse was missing. The stable was empty. The man’s neighbors mocked the man saying he should have sold the horse before it was stolen. How could someone so poor expect to secure a horse of such value. The man responded, “We don’t know the horse was stolen. All we know is the horse is not in the stable. I’m leaving it at that.”

A few days went by and the horse returned home. He was followed by twelve wild mares. The neighborhood rejoiced, telling the man he was given a fortune. The mares could be trained and sold for a great profit, but the man said, “We don’t know for sure. All we know is there are twelve mares here.”

The man’s son tried training the horses, but one of them threw him off. He broke both of his legs. The neighbors gathered around to grieve. The elderly man had no one else to help him, and now his son’s legs were injured. He would surely be desperate. “We don’t know for sure,” came the man’s response. “All we know is my son’s legs are injured.”

As the son’s legs healed, the country went to war, and all the young men had to leave the village to serve in the army. That is, except the son. He remained home because of his injuries. Again, the neighborhood returned to the old man. This time angry because their sons had to go to war and his did not. “We will never see our sons again,” they lamented. “You don’t know that,” replied the elderly man, “all you know is your sons went to war.”

He continued, “It is impossible to have a conversation with you. You always draw conclusions.”

In chapter 12, Job rebukes his friends for drawing a conclusion about his situation. They believe they know exactly why Job is going through this time of suffering, and they speak their minds without truly knowing the plan God has. Job’s friends draw conclusions like the old man’s neighbors. When someone else is going through a hard time, we may not fully know why they are having this experience in their life. Friends should always ask for wisdom before drawing conclusions about someone’s circumstances.

Proverbs 25:8 advises, “Don’t jump to conclusions—there may be
    a perfectly good explanation for what you just saw.”

When you or one of your friends is going through a rough time, consider asking the Lord for wisdom to approach the situation in the best way.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

ASK THESE 5 QUESTIONS BEFORE SPEAKING

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In the Peanuts Thanksgiving show, Peppermint Patty calls Charlie Brown to let him know she is coming over for Thanksgiving. “My parents said I could come over for Thanksgiving, Chuck. I will be over, Chuck. Wear something nice, Chuck.” She invites a few other people until there is a whole group of visitors going to Charlie Brown’s home for Thanksgiving dinner, but there is a problem. Charlie Brown was going to go to his grandmother’s house for Thanksgiving.

“I’ve tried to tell Peppermint Patty I’m not going to be home,” Charlie Brown says at one point in the show, “but I can’t get a word in. She talks all the time.”

Our words are powerful, and they are like toothpaste. Squeeze too much toothpaste out of the tube. Putting it back is almost impossible, and it makes a big mess in the process. Our words are the same way. We can’t put words back in our mouth, and when too many come out, it can make a big mess. To avoid the mess, Scripture suggests we choose our words carefully.

  • “Understand this my dear brothers and sisters,” James 1:19 encourages, “you must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”
  • According to Proverbs 15:1, “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare.”

Our words carry with them the power to direct our lives. Our words build up or tear down relationships. Words can build someone’s confidence or cause great heartache and discouragement. Our words, whether out of our mouth or via our keyboard, have tremendous power, which is why it is essential we choose our words carefully. Here are 5 questions we should ask before speaking.

  1. Are these words kind?
  2. Are my words beneficial to the recipient? As Christians, we are to build one another up with our words.
  3. Are my words necessary?
  4. Would I be embarrassed if I was quoted?
  5. Would I want someone to say this to me?

The average person can speak 100 to 130 words per minute and type 60 to 65 words per minute. We can quickly get words out and be on to the next one, but the impact our words have can last for a long time. In some cases, their impact can be felt for a lifetime. Being entrusted with something this powerful requires careful use. You and I should be slow to speak; choosing our words carefully is one of the ways we are recognized as being with Jesus.

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Bible Study, Christian Life, Devotional, Encouragement, Inspiration, Uncategorized

5 Tips for Building a Firm Foundation

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Firm foundations survive storms.

There seems to be no shortage of storms in the world right now. Glance at the headlines, and you will soon discover storms coming at us from all directions. COVID19, personal safety being at risk, and the like are causing storms. While it may be a particularly stormy time, storms are nothing new to life.

Proverbs suggests we build our lives on a firm foundation to survive these storms. Solomon writes in 10:25, “When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away, but the Godly have a lasting foundation.”

How do we build this foundation?

  • Develop a relationship with the Lord by spending time in the Bible.
  • Seek wisdom through prayer.
  • Search the Scriptures for answers to life’s questions.
  • Always strive to do what is right.

Building on this foundation is not easy, but it is worth the effort involved. Jesus tells a parable of two builders. The first builder did not take the time to dig through the sand to place his home on a rock foundation, while the second builder dug through the sand to rest his home on a rock foundation. A storm came, and flood waters rose. The first house was swept away, but the second house stood, unmoved by the tumultuous waters.

As we are weathering a stormy time, how firm is your foundation? Do you need to allow the Lord to add stability?

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