God is good. And life can be hard.
A favorite part of my high school years was cheerleading. I loved my school, my friends, the sports, the camaraderie and enthusiasm, and the whole small-town vibe of everybody showing up and cheering for our Climax Vikings hometown team.
And … I know this.
When life is hard, some cheerleader shouting and jumping up and down while yelling “Let’s go! You’ve got this!” is going to become annoying very quickly. You’ll probably just want to grab her pom poms and cut those little colorful streamers into confetti.
We need cheerleaders in our lives. And we need to know there is something deeper and longer lasting than a pep rally to keep us in the game.
We find “something deeper and longer lasting” in God’s Word. Not only do His promises bring us hope – we meet Him in those pages.
I wonder why we forget about the hope and encouragement that is repeated over and over again in the Bible. Hmmm … maybe it’s because reading those beautiful, sacred words requires us to shift our attention from the troubling situation. And somewhere deep down inside we believe that if we stop thinking about the problem, stop trying to fix or control it, everything will fall apart. Yes? Yes, I think that might be right.
As a former cheerleader who has a heart for encouragement and cares so very much for you, I’m sending you these words with my hands cupped around my mouth to make sure they get straight into your heart …
Start reading truth, promises, hope-giving messages in your Bible.
Meeting with God is better than a pep rally. Meeting with God heals your heart and soothes your soul from the inside out. It actually has the power to change things.
If you’re tired of wandering and wondering, stop wandering and wondering. Take a breath. Settle into your cozy chair. Open your Bible and change your thinking (which will change your life). Replace the lies that have set up a zip code in your brain with words from a God who cannot lie. Replace the anxiety with hope – expecting a better tomorrow based on God’s character and promises.
Lean in and please listen.
There is nothing happening in your life right now that is beyond God’s reach.
Our God is a good God.
And life can be hard.
And a hard life doesn’t change the fact that God is a good God.
The early minutes of a game are easy to play. Finishing the game when your energy is gone and your opponent is fierce is what’s hard.
Don’t play this game called life without your cheerleaders. And for Pete’s sake, don’t leave God and his Word out of your game plan. That’s the only game plan that will give you what you need to keep going.
God’s game plan promises you hope and a future.
“I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13
Don’t give up and don’t get distracted by the strength of the other team. Keep looking up. Fix your eyes on Jesus. Let His Word fill you with hope and encouragement.
I’ve included the verses below several times in these notes over the last few months. I regularly read them out loud in the morning. They remind me of God’s goodness and the good that lies in front of me. When my heart and mind are troubled, they help me shift my thinking. And that changes my day.
From a cheerleader’s heart who loves God and His Word most …
God’s got you. He’s not going to let you go.
“This is a good life – my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy, and my body is at rest. Who could want for more? You will not abandon me to experience death and the grave or leave me to rot alone. Instead, You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life. As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending, and I know true joy and contentment.” (Psalm 16:9-11)
“He has surrounded you on every side, behind you and before you, and He has placed his hand gently on your shoulder.” [Personalization, mine]
Psalm 139:5
