A lost virtue is meditation. Of greatest importance is for the Christian to meditate on God’s Word. And to take it a step further… meditate on Scripture as applied to personal life situations.

Here are a few things I have come to embrace over the years. I’ve come to these conclusions by struggling with what I felt in my heart versus what I read in Scripture… when at first the two were in conflict. I now call this my “Theology Of Encouragement.”

Every hurt, disappointment, and pain in life is placed there by a loving God who wills only the absolute best for his own, now and forever (Isaiah 46:9-10; Psalm 84:11; Romans 8:18, 31b-32, 37-39).

God’s goal is not so much ease and comfort in this life as it is his glory (Isaiah 48:11) and the strength of his children’s faith (Luke 22:31-32).

God never allows anything into his children’s life that is anything but good in his all wise knowledge (Romans 8:28).

God is so determined to make his children like his Son he does not leave it to chance, but wills it without any possibility of failure (Romans 8:29).

Therefore, everything the Christian experiences is ultimately good, increases joy, lays up treasure in heaven, and is to be understood in these contexts (Romans 8:31-32).

I came to these conclusions over the course of 30 years and many difficulties. These are hooks on which I hang my hat. I don’t ask you to embrace them without first meditating on the Scripture and asking God to reveal Himself to you. Blessings.