AN ENCOURAGING WORD


The paragraphs below are notes from my journal written back in 2001, about 18 years ago. They are vivid examples of how the Lord can encourage us with a word in season when we need it most.

January 29, 2001
I was sitting at my desk preparing to go to work one morning and struggling with frustration at where I was in my life. I had gone from being a successful pastor to facing the failure of a new church plant and trying to find a job that would provide for my family. Looking through a notebook I came upon a poem I had previously written to encourage myself to persevere and trust the Lord in the waiting process:
“When it seems you are forgotten and your good days in the past, His grace brings forth a new song. He saves the best for last.”
The poem was based on the words spoken to Jesus when He turned the water into wine: 
“Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine…and then the inferior. But you have kept the good wine until now” (John 2: 10). Laurel and I believed this was God's plan for our life and "ministry." The best is being saved for last.
In a flash I thought of all the good words the Lord had spoken into my heart over recent years. I realized I had to resist the temptation to be angry at my situation and to resist feelings of failure, and feelings of being forgotten and abandoned.
I closed my notebook and started to arise but decided to read a verse of scripture before going to work. I reached over and opened my bible. It fell open to Ecclesiastes 7: 8-10. It was like an audible voice from God. Each word applied to me:
“The end of a thing is better than the beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.”I knew the Lord was encouraging me to stand in faith and confidence, and to trust Him for what He will yet do.

February 14, 2001
I stopped by an auto shop a couple miles from my home. As I walked out of the office and across the parking lot to my van I was feeling the stress of financial pressure and a little despair and distress at my perplexity concerning direction for my life. I had cried out to the Lord in prayer the night before, and Laurel and I had prayed together before I left the house that morning.
As I walked across the parking lot, a black fellow in a bright red shirt who was at the other end of the building yelled to me across the parking lot, “God will make a way! No matter what the trouble, God will make a way! Just praise Him!” I did not know this man. I had never seen him before. But I received his word as from an angel of God, for he was truly sent to me by the Lord.
Then, like icing on the cake, the very next week, our grandson Christian, who was not more than 3 years old at the time, just out of the blue said to Laurel, “God will take care of you, gammy.”

I believe the Lord speaks to us on every side if we will only listen. He reveals Himself and strengthens us as we face the issues of life. That word does not remove us from the battle, but rather helps us to “fight the good fight” (1 Timothy 1:18).
"But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord. I say, 'You are my God. My times are in Your hand.' "
Psalm 31: 14-15.

Billy Long

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