How many times have you heard this? My life stinks. I’m going nowhere. I’ve had this problem all my life; it will never go away. I just can’t find the energy anymore. I don’t think God loves me. I’m tired of fighting.

We’ve all had moments like that.  Yes, even Christians feel this way.  Almost every day of our lives we get discouraged. Life is the pits sometimes. There are days when you don’t even want to wake up and face another one. However, the Bible tells us, time and time again, not to be afraid or discouraged.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9

Over and over we read these words in scripture.  They must be important if so much emphasis is placed on them.  It sounds so simple, but not so much. God also tells us that our life isn’t always going to be a bed of roses. The discouragement is real; the suffering doesn’t always simply go away. The real encouragement comes in knowing that God is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow. He will never give up on us, even though we sometimes might give up on Him.

Even in our darkest hours, we can be confident that we are not walking this planet alone.  Jesus is right at our side, guiding and guarding each step that we take.