Verse: Acts 18:9-11
9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.
Thoughts
In the preceding chapters Paul has been chased, beaten, flogged, imprisoned, hated, and rioted against. He was literally going from town to town facing one form of resistance and persecution after another. From what Luke (the author of Acts) reveals to us, he just kept moving. He didn't seem to get discouraged or consider giving up.
Then we get this quick picture into Paul's humanity. We see a beautiful exchange where the Lord speaks to Paul to encourage him. I don't know if Paul was starting to get frustrated, or discouraged, or was feeling like, "am I ever going to get any peace?"—but for some reason God knew Paul needed some encouragement.
Are you going through anything in your life right now where you could use some encouragement? Are you feeling like you've been "fighting the good fight" and have been facing down obstacle after obstacle? Are you feeling like, "enough is enough!"? I wonder how the Lord would want to encourage you today?
I was reading in Psalm 94 the other day and this verse (18-19) stuck out to me:
When I said, “My foot is slipping,”
your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.
When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation [comfort] brought me joy.
I think, today, the Lord would like to encourage you. I think he would like to speak to you words of love and comfort. I think he would like to remind you that you are not alone ("I have many people in this city.") I wonder if you can hear that this morning? Can you pause, just for a moment, and hear God's kindness over your life in this Scripture? He is for you. He is on your side. He knows what you've been going through. His love is holding you and keeping you from slipping. He has people who love you and care for you. His comfort will surround you. Let these words bring you strength as you head into this week, and lean on the God who loves to lift you up.
Prayer
Draw near to me Lord. I need you. I pray for you strength and comfort to lift me up.