2 Corinthians 1:6–If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

Many times God will have us go through “agitations” that are not really about us, but for us to receive from Him a message for others to be encouraged. So you can have a certain feeling, and God intend for you to pray intently that you get from Him, what you need to encourage other people.  The goal is to get us “out of ourselves” to see how God is using this disturbance for His purpose and glory…

The goal is to keep “the flow” of giving and receiving to one another going, that we live in an environment of encouragement.  The reason the flow of encouragement stops, is that we first don’t seek it from God, and second we don’t release it to others.  God is faithful to pour into those who give (Proverbs 11:25).  The question is whether we are faithful to seek His encouragement daily, that we pass it on to others?

I have realized the times I have been most discouraged, is when I have allowed myself to be consumed with myself.  That I don’t see how I am able to deal with these issues, until finally I take them to God, that I realize that God gave me the burden to help someone else!  I realize that God wants to continue to put me in the place of service, which fights against my selfish nature…

Though it takes maturity, much of our problems are made to be of comfort to others.  I believe the reason, is for us to embrace that we are here to serve and live for the sake of others, not just relief from our distresses.  That embodies our Lord and Savior.  Fight to change your mindset, that you are not a victim of issues, but a vessel to get comfort from God to help others.

In His Love, Ld