"I am the vine, you are the branches: John 15:5

 

John 15:1-8 reads Christ spoke of Himself as the true vine: “I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Have you ever looked closely at a tree and its branches? I have often looked and appreciated trees for their beauty and usefulness but only in the last couple of weeks have I looked closer at a tree just several feet from our front window. We have several huge trees surrounding our property and they provide shade and beauty.

The really strange and interesting thing about this one tree is how one of its branches reaches out to one of our neighbor’s smaller trees. That tree is only a foot away from ours. It is a smaller tree of the same kind, but the neighbor’s tree and branches look like it is not doing well. That is, until recently when one of the branches of the weak tree extended one of its branches to our stronger tree and its branch. Honestly, it looks like our strong tree and its branch is trying to help the smaller branch and tree survive. After a couple of weeks, the smaller tree and branch is doing better. The branches actually look greener and stronger.

I have noticed this same phenomenon with plants such as rose bushes, daffodils, and other plants. Years ago I read that plants that are different but placed close to other different plants—huddle together; they stay close together and support each other, so that they will survive. And survive, they do!

Isn’t this a lot like human beings? Don’t we hang together with people who are similar to us—attitudes, opinions and so forth? And don’t we do this so that we will survive—perhaps thrive? Of course, we do.

For Christians like you and me, we should first thing in the morning rush to our savior and get nourished. He is the tree and we are the branches. If we go straight to Him in the morning, won’t we get the nourishment, encouragement and love so that we can face the day with courage, a plan to do well and love from our Savior? You bet we will. All we need to do is go to Him directly and say, “Will you be with, help and love me today?” His answer will always be, “Yes!”

Are you discouraged? Here is what can help by Toni Star

It is important, before I discuss discouragement, to write it's definition: discouragement comes from the root word, courage. The prefix dis, means "the opposite of." When you and I are discouraged, we have lost the motivation to press forward. The battles, the mountains, the valleys become too steep, dark or too fierce.

For example, I have chronic back and leg pain that sometimes make me feel that the struggle to sleep or perform ordinary tasks, are just too much to do. Another example is when chores around the house or errands to run; become too difficult to perform. To be honest, sometimes I just feel that maybe the work that needs to be done, is just too much to accomplish.

Do you feel this way too? If you are a human being, then most likely you have such moments. The enemy will use such moments to suggest that life is unfair and that God doesn't hear your needs; or that your past deeds of selfishness, uncaring or resentment are the end results of not being a Christian. This so untrue!

 One example of discouragement comes from the Bible is the apostle Paul. "Paul stood on the promises of the Bible. he pressed forward, preaching the gospel, eventually ending up in a Roman jail where he lost his life. From prison, he wrote, “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). He could press on through persecution, rejection, beatings, and discouragement because his eyes were on the ultimate prize: hearing the words “Well done!” from his Lord and Savior (see Matthew 25:23; Revelation 22:12)."

It is easy to become discouraged when seeking reward from those around us. Jesus seldom too the easy path, and warned his followers to consider not taking the easy path (Luke 14:25-33. "We are not so easily discouraged when things don’t go our way because we know the battle is the Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:47).

We easily become discouraged when we seek reward or affirmation from those around us. If our service or obedience is based upon immediate gratification, we may be setting ourselves up for discouragement. Jesus did not always take the easy path, and He warned His followers to consider that before they started (Luke 14:25–33). When we have already counted the cost of discipleship, we have more strength to face the battles ahead. We are not so easily discouraged when things don’t go our way because we know the battle is the Lord’s (1 Samuel 17:47).)

When we lose our primary focus of always turning to Jesus first, discouragement often comes in the form of a warning light. Sometimes it is pride, greed, or covetousness that feeds discouragement. (When we use discouragement as a reminder that our priorities have become skewed, the feeling of discouragement can become a refining tool to make us more like Jesus (see Romans 8:29).)

Discouragement can be a warning light suggesting to us that we have lost our primary focus. When we feel discouraged, it helps to get alone with the Lord and allow Him to examine our hearts and our motives (Psalm 139:23). Often, it is pride, greed, or covetousness that is feeding our discouragement. A sense of entitlement can worm its way into our hearts and highlight the discrepancy between what we have and what we believe we are owed. When we recognize that attitude as sin, we can repent, humble ourselves, and let the Holy Spirit readjust our expectations. When we use discouragement as a reminder that our priorities have become skewed, the feeling of discouragement can become a refining tool to make us more like Jesus (see Romans 8:29).

Not long ago I allowed discouragement to get the better of me. I felt helpless and so lost. I didn't see an end to the physical and mental pain, brought on by chronic pain and disappointment in people. But, when I brought to mind that my priorities in life had become unbalanced, I saw how those skewed priorities would help make me more like Jesus. Jesus suffered terribly but He knew that the end result--His death and resurrection--would bring hope, life and goodness to everyone who followed Him. 

The poem below speaks clearly about our souls and how we can praise God, no matter what our suffering is....

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you” (Psalm 42:5–6)."

We all go through "dark" days; days when we can't see the light. Always remember, no matter how dark the day may be, Jesus, the light, is always there.  You can't see Him, but He is there in spiritual form. Centuries ago He said, "I am with you always; even to the end." Matthew 28:20

Don't let the enemy make you feel that it is your fault you are discouraged. Discouragement happens to all of us sometimes in our lives. Let discouragement bring you to God and His Son for they "care" for you! You are never alone!

Copyright Toni Star January 2023