It is so easy to get discouraged. Ladies, take the case of a new haircut, hair style, or hair color. Most people with common sense will say regardless, “Love your hair! Work it girl! Never looked better!” But all it takes is that one person who says, “Oh, I see you got a haircut.” But they say nothing else and walk away. Or if you really want to give someone a low blow call it “interesting.” For what does “interesting” mean today? I believe it says: I really don’t like it, but I didn’t want to tell it to your face. So passive aggressively I chose this word.”

Guys, perhaps you don’t get discouraged about hair. But how about those who give off the impressive if you were a real man you would have done it bigger and better. Let’s say you carve a simple Jack-O-Lantern, and you thought it went well. But your neighbor shows you with braggadocios spirit how he was able to carve Van Gough’s Starry Night into his pumpkin.

I don’t know what your experience is but I believe we have all learned this one simple truth: a single word can either tear us down or build us up. And most of us are dealing with more discouraging words than we care to admit. It’s easy to be torn down.

So let me take a moment to encourage you. Because I believe the God I represent is an encouraging God. He knows how to lift us up regardless of our reasons for discouragement.

The encouraging word I want to share with you is this, “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

Most of us walk around spiritually discouraged. That is because somewhere inside us there is a recognition that all of us are imperfect. Maybe you’ve even admitted, “Well, nobody’s perfect.” God has a name for all our imperfect thoughts, words, and deed, and it is sin. Sin deserves punishment. Sin brings shame and guilt. Sin means we should be appointed to suffer God’s wrath and anger over what we have done.

But there is good news! There is a word of encouragement from God! We are not appointed to suffer wrath! Jesus suffered for our sake. Jesus took up the cross, and died the death we deserved for sin. And all who through faith trust in him as Savior, have a different day appointed for them.
So I’m here to tell you about the true day you’ve been appointed for. Perk up for this encouraging word!

You’ve been appointed for a day when suffering ceases. You’ve been appointed for a day when death is done, and there is only life and life beyond our best imagination. You’ve been appointed not to be an angel on a cloud playing a harp (none of that imagery is in the Bible by the way), you’ve been appointed to have an imperishable, perfected body in the new heavens and the new earth where sadness is no more. You’ve been appointed to live forever with the author of every good thing. You’ve been appointed to see Jesus face to face.

This day comes to us through faith in Jesus, who suffered wrath in our place. And knowledge this much brighter day that is coming is able to shine through our darkest days here. Knowledge of such a day can lift discouraged hearts. Let the message of Jesus and the day that is coming encourage you! Spread this message to encourage the hearts of others. God bless!