Guest Author - Kathryn Free

Woke up this morning feeling encouraged. To be encouraged after last week is a miracle of magnitude 10. Health, finances and family were at a high pitch of pain.

Circumstances threatened to defeat and crush not only my body but my soul as well. Waters were rising all around me with no escape. Darkness surrounded me. Emptiness threatened to engulf. No one would hear my last cry. I was completely alone. Friday was my breaking point. I sat numbly on my bed, tears streaming down my face. What was I going to do?

So how, 2 days later, can I wake up feeling encouraged? Circumstances have not changed. My future still loomed bleak and fearfully ahead of me. Health, finances and family had not changed. This encouragement is a miracle of magnitude 10! What happened was Psalm 127:1-2. I did nothing but surrender my everything to a Faithful Father Friday evening. I could do nothing to change the circumstances placed before me, so I surrendered.

In this world’s economy it can be assured that we will reach this same point. Sure, we could work harder ~ but to what end? We could compromise our words ~ but loose what in return? We could blame ~ but bitterness would just take root in our bones and we would be worse off.

Our country is changing at a rapid pace. No one can keep up. President Obama was chosen to lead this country. His policies and choices are affecting all of our lives in ways no one can fathom. Our country seems to be splitting in two. Both sides screaming. blaming and calling for action.

So where is encouragement today? It is found in Yeshua. He alone holds everything together in His hands. He encouraged my soul when I was helpless. He gave me hope when my hope was dying. He gave me a purpose when all I felt was vain empty striving.

Unless Yeshua builds your house, all your labor is worthless. You are striving after the wind and your works will be burned to destruction. Let Yeshua build your house and give you rest from striving. He knows you are losing or have lost your job. He knows you have need of work and provisions. He also knows you have need of rest ~ sleep. Sleep of trust and faith in Him that will gives you wings as of an eagle.

We can rest and sleep assured that our Savior never sleeps or slumbers. He has gone before us and defeated sin and death. We can be encouraged because of His perfect sacrifice demonstrated in His risen life.

‘Unless the Lord build the house, They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, to retire late, to eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.’
Psalm 127:1-2