“…being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1: 11-12

I am one who is called to encourage, to exhort, to lift the soul and refresh the spirit like a cool drink of water on a dry and dusty day. This day, it is heavy upon my heart that you need encouragement. If that’s you, this post is for you…

I can see your soul. I can see the disappointment and discouragement on your face. You want to walk away. You want to give up. You would like nothing more than to quit. Don’t quit! Don’t give up! Because I can see more than your frustration and discontent, I can also see your heart and the whiteness that gleams from it. I can see your desire to pursue all that the Lord has put your hand to. You shall continue, you will pursue, and more than that you will excel! Frequently, when we feel we have absolutely nothing left to give, our every internal and even external resource has been washed away…that is when the Lord steps in to say, “Here I AM, I have come to help you Over come.”

But wait, there is more…

Look at the above selected passage of scripture. Something is in there that maybe you skimmed past or over looked. It did not fail to penetrate my eye and is the reason why I selected this verse among many verses to encourage your soul…”QUALIFIED”. Who said you can’t do it? Who said exactly who you are isn’t enough? Who said you can’t get it done? Who calls you unqualified? Was it you or someone else? Maybe it was a little of both? Because it sure wasn’t God!

God says you are completely equipped, skilled and tenacious enough to get the job done! No matter what it is that discourages and weighs your heart, I  know that you were hand picked by God and placed exactly where you are on purpose. Every experience of your entire life has forged a foundation for this moment, every good circumstance and even the bad ones. Every missed opportunity and every grand victory has been the building block to this moment.

So, what are you going to do in this moment? It’s not in you to quit. Winners never quit and quitters never win and you, my friend, are a winner!

Have you ever seen the diagram of success? It has two lines drawn next to each other with an arrow on the upwardly mobile end. On the left, how people perceive success to look…like a straight line that continues to steadily climb over time. To the right is another line that also climbs just as high as the line to the left. But this line look like a jumbled piece of yarn in the middle, so many twists and curves you can hardly discern it’s direction. Then, in the end, it is success. The line on the right is the true reality of every success journey. No one ever shoots “straight to the top”. There will always be set back, frustration, failures that only lead to wisdom gained.

I know your heart is heavy. Your head is hanging down…DON’T QUIT. It may seem like you are alone, but you are never alone. You know it and so do I. God is with you and He is counting on you. More than that, there are people around you who want to see you win, who want to cheer you victorious, who listen to you, support you and believe in you. They may sometimes feel like the minority in the crowd, and usually they are (for all of us), but their vote matters and they are voting for you! In fact, they need you. So, don’t worry about what you are feeling or what you are seeing or what other’s may even be saying. Work to please God. Make your choices to please HIM. Your true supporters will discern that and continue with you. If they don’t, then God was probably doing you a favor. You are God’s Candidate for Victory.

You are God’s Candidate for Victory!

Don’t worry about man, what they think, what they say. If it doesn’t line up with God’s opinion of you, then He will deal with it anyway. He is showing you and that is a blessing. You don’t need a big team to win, you just need the right team. God’s got your back.

My pen has been given to me by the Lord. My pen is my sword, I wield it for Him. I use it to impart Hope, Love and Encouragement to you. I always am truthful with it, even when truth stings a bit, but Truth delivered in absolute love to ensure success is something that can be counted consistent and comes from one who will truly care. I hope it will help get you through. I haven’t written in a while and for that I am sorry. I know God doesn’t always need my help. Ok, He never does, but I know He wants me to help. To the best of my power and ability I will continue to use my words of affirmation, encouragement, exhortation, and love to heal, to bind the wounds of the broken, feed the hungry and wipe the tear of the downhearted soul. I will use it to bless, protect and uplift. I will use it for you.

~Nicole

P.S I have seen the victory…sweeter than you know.

References for Encouragement:

Romans 12:12

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

Galatians 6:9

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

James 1:12

“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

2 Thessalonians 3:13

“And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.”

John 15:7

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.”

2 Corinthians 1:21

“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anoints us.”

Luke 21:19

“By standing firm you will gain life.”