Don’t be Afraid or Discouraged

(Today is National Encouragement Day)

Then David continued, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly. —1 Chronicles 28:20

 When God freed Israel from their slavery in Egypt, He gave them instructions to build a mobile temple—a traveling tent of worship as they crossed the desert from Egypt to the land of promise.

 When they arrived, this tent continued to serve for worship, generation after generation.

 But during the time David was king of Israel, he wanted to build an actual building for worship in Jerusalem. And although God hadn’t requested it, he permitted it to be built.

“However,” God said, “you will not be the one to build it, David. That will be a task for your son, Solomon.”

 So David made plans to support his son in the work God had for him.

 Parents, God has plans for this next generation. If there is one thing we learn from God’s Word is that He is continuing His work, generation after generation. One day our work will be completed. But God’s work will continue. So our task is to equip the next generation for their part in God’s work.

 Here is what King David said to his fledgling-ruler son, Solomon:

 “Be strong and courageous and do the work. Don’t be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. He will see to it that all the work related to the Temple of the LORD is finished correctly. —1 Chronicles 28:20

 Solomon would soon be king, and his father’s encouragement and influence would help him rise to the next level.

 And isn’t that one of our hopes for our children—that they would accomplish far more than we have?

 Encourage your children—and grandchildren—with the knowledge that whatever God calls them to, He is with them. David even personalizes God’s involvement. He says: “The Lord God, my God, is with you.”

 Remind them that He will never fail nor forsake them. What He has called them to, He will see them through.

 And while they may be distracted or discouraged from God’s call in their life, in David’s words “He will see to it that all the work He has called them to will be completed correctly.”

 God is the One who will complete the work. Our job is to encourage them to be strong, courageous and to keep their eyes on Him.

 So remember, your greatest contribution in this life may not be what you do, but who you raise.

Bill Herried is lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma, Washington. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon. He is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren and loves a good biryani. You can learn more about Bill on his blog, Your Daily Encouragement