"Be of Good Cheer..."

"But the following night the Lord stood by him (Paul) and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."  Acts 23:11 (NKJV)

Last week I reposted a post I had originally written a couple of years ago when I was unemployed and wondering  "When is the Cavalry Every Going to Get Here?".  In the update on that message I stated that just twelve days after writing that post I had indeed been called to a new job, one that I had not even known existed on the date of that original writing.  Looking back and realizing that fact was a source of great encouragement to me and to others who find themselves in similar circumstances today.  I also mentioned that my husband is currently in a position of waiting on God to show Him the next step for his life...whether or not he is to remain "retired" (not by choice), or get back to work in some manner of ministry.  He is still waiting today...but it seems like God keeps giving him little glimpses and messages of hope along the way.  Today it was from the above scripture reading in our pastor's sermon at church.

The scripture reading itself was filled with words of encouragement, but as our pastor continued to expound upon the words written there, he used another Bible translation, The Holman Christian Standard version, which said,

"The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, "Have courage! For as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

He then further amplified and applied this verse to the congregation this way,

"Have courage! God will give you a job to do!  I have more work for you to do!"...

That in itself was a word of hope and encouragement to a man sitting in a dry and thirsty land, feeling forgotten and alone...but the other part was the first portion of that verse that was almost overlooked...and it was possibly the best part of the verse:

"The Lord stood by him..."

Oftentimes we forget in all of our anguish and despair and searching that we are never alone...we don't realize that at our lowest point in life, like the Apostle Paul who was about to be "pulled to pieces" by the Pharisees and Sadducees...(see Acts 23:10), "The Lord stood by him".   Likewise He is standing by us in the midst of our trials and tribulations and difficulties of life.  He is there beckoning to us, "Be of good cheer..."  "Have Courage", ....paraphrasing, Just as you have served me in the past, you will serve me again...

I wanted to share this with you, my friends today, because I know there are many of you searching for hope.  Some of you have given up, lost your courage, and have no "good cheer" in your hearts.  But open your eyes...look around you...perhaps you will catch a glimpse of the Lord close beside you...

Jesus in Disguise, by Brandon Heath  Check this link to listen to a new song I've had in my head lately  that kind of speaks to that...oftentimes we don't recognize "Jesus in Disguise" right beside us...speaking to us through a pastor's sermon, a friend's words of encouragement, a message sent through a blog, an email, or a card or letter from someone you may not even know personally.  "Jesus in disguise, Jehovah passing by..." in the face of a stranger on the street...or in the seat next to you...or in one of your own loved ones...

God uses many different ways to reach us.  If we aren't listening to the most obvious messages...then sometimes He sends His messenger to us in disguise.  Be ready...be watching and listening...He may be speaking to you right now...in disguise...but don't miss the opportunity to glimpse "Jehovah passing by..."

"Messiah IX" by Michael Belk, in "Journeys with The Messiah"