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February 26, 1999, Friday
Do you believe that disappointment, despair, disillusion,
and discouragement can cause sickness? What is the remedy
for the discouragement sickness? If death is the winner in
this world because our physical bodies will decay and die,
what hope does one have to overcome that disappointment?
God spoke to Israel through Haggai to keep the people from
despair and disillusion. Everyone should be healed from the
sickness of fear, worry, and anxiety. The Lord wants each
individual believer to move forward remembering His promise-
"But now don't be discouraged, any of you. Do the work,
for I am with you. When you came out of Egypt, I promised
that I would always be with you. I am still with you, so
do not be afraid (Hag 2:4-5). It is encouragement to us
and healing that He will be on our side as we press on.
Luke tells us that Jesus exerted much effort to teach and
encourage, to explain and keep His disciples from despair-
"Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to teach them that
they should always pray and not to ever be at the point of
discouragement" (Luke 18:1). The believer who
prays is the encouraged believer, for he finds comfort from
the disappointments that our world brings and the physcial
limitations that set him back. The believer finds healing
for he continues to pray and does not lose heart.
The Psalmist experienced sickness and depression, but was
encouraged by the Lord Who brought him new hope every day-
"The Lord is near to those who are discouraged; He saves
those who have lost all hope" (Psa 34:18). Paul learned a
lesson from Jesus about discouragement and found new hope-
"For this reason we never become discouraged. Even though
our physical being is gradually decaying, yet our spiritual
being is renewed day after day" (2Cor 4:16). It is a fact
that the physical body suffers sickness and decay; however
our hope is the fact that our renewed spirit will live in
heaven forever with no sickness, decay, or discouragement.
Let us remember Who is the God that is our Healer. God's
Name is Jehová Rophe. He is the God that is our Healer.
He binds up our wounds and heals all of our infirmities. To
the brokenhearted, He comforts the soul. To the person who
is down, the Sun of Rightousness Rises with healing in His
wings. Lift your hands to Him and Praise Him today for
the fact that He is the God that heals us of the spiritual
infirmities that trouble us!
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