“The following night, the Lord stood by him and said, ’Have courage! For as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so it is necessary for you to testify in Rome.’“
Acts 23:11 (CSB)
–
JUNE 6, 2025
From my limited human perspective, I would hardly call this a victorious evangelistic success for Paul. He was bound and arrested for no reason, was falsely accused, and when he did speak it led to more arguing, division, rage and an outbreak of violence. We see no repentance, no weeping and reconciliation. Only fighting, violence, and accusation. Feel familiar?
And yet, in the middle of the night while Paul is in the barracks, he experiences the presence of the Lord. The Lord who keeps His promise to never leave us or forsake us. The Lord who promises to be with us always, even to the end of the age. And the Lord says something incredible to Paul. He says, “Have courage!” Other Bible translations say, “Be encouraged!”
How can Paul be encouraged after such a hard and rotten day? How can Paul be encouraged when the people who are supposed to be his brothers, the people who are supposed to be spiritual leaders, the people who are supposed to be glorifying God through their lives and bringing blessing to the nations are engulfed in fighting, pride, hard-heartedness, and rebellion against God under the robes of righteousness? There is nothing tangibly encouraging about that. In fact, if Paul were to give in to discouragement, no one would blame him.
God doesn’t tell Paul that he really messed that one up. He doesn’t give him pointers for next time. God tells Paul to keep on testifying about Him, no matter what the outcome looks like.
I suspect that some of us are wrestling with disappointments and discouragements not unlike Paul’s. Have courage! God is with us, empowering us, working in us, transforming us, and working through us, and daily calls us to follow Him, no matter what.
Questions for reflection and discussion:
- Have you ever had a moment when you just couldn’t see how God could bring something fruitful out of a situation?
- What strategies help you when you are discouraged in your faith journey?
Church Reading Plan
- Today, June 6: Deuteronomy 9; Psalm 92-93
- Saturday, June 7: Deuteronomy 10; Psalm 94
- Sunday, June 8: Deuteronomy 11; Psalm 95-96