7 Reasons To Be Encouraged

2. But if God is omnipotent (as the Bible says), and is in all places at all times, then anything is possible. He orders everything in the universe: from the infinite sub-atomic particles to the movements of galaxies.

3. If He can do all that, can’t he orchestrate all the minutia of your life? Why does He allow us to suffer? I don’t know. His ways are “past finding out” Job 9:10; Rom. 11:33.

B. GOD OF THE BIG PICTURE

1. ILLUS. “Looking at the Wrong Side”

a. A minister went to visit a woman who was very despondent and bitter at God over the circumstances of her life.

b. As the Minister tried to give her some words of comfort, she gave him the cold shoulder and kept working away at her knitting, needle work. She was developing a picture on one side of the material. Finally she said, “If God was really doing His job, my life wouldn’t be such a mess!”

c. The Minister, on a sudden inspiration, stepped over and snatched the needle work from her hands. Looking at the under side – which was a tangle of cut threads – said, “I don’t know why you bother doing this; it looks like nothing but a jumble of meaningless threads!”

d. She snatched it back and declared with chagrin, “You’re looking at the wrong side! It’s on this other side that you can see the design I’m working on!”

e. “That is my point exactly,” he said. “You are looking at the wrong side of what God is doing in your life; He has a wonderful plan and you need to see it from His eternal perspective!”

2. If we can understand that there’s a purpose in our trials, they become easier to bear. Think how Joseph's years as a slave or in prison could've destroyed his spirit if it’d not been for the dreams God gave him.

3. Paul said, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us Rom. 5:3-5.

4. This means that despite the way it looks, things are getting better for us all the time! Thank God!

IV. JESUS CHRIST IS INTERCEDING FOR US

A. OUR NEED FOR PRAYER

1. We all need prayer, don’t we? One cute instance of prayer, was when Dennis the Menace was kneeling beside his bed, hands folded, looking toward heaven. With an imploring look on his face he prayed, "I'm here to turn myself in!" Do you feel like that sometimes?

2. Now I appreciate all your prayers for me. I don't know what I would do without them. I appreciate my mother's prayers for me. But most of all, I appreciate the prayers of the Lord Jesus.

B. ONE MEDIATOR BTW GOD & MAN

1. How are His prayers different? He always gets what

he prays for! Isn't that awesome? What He requests from the Father, the Father will give Him.

2. So great is His influence with the Father, that not only can He asks, but also what His followers ask in His name will be granted if it’s in the purpose and will of God.