Written by First Lady Shanan C. Burress
Posted September 19, 2025
Have you ever had to encourage someone through their difficult situation while you were in the midst of your own difficult situation? I’m talking about those times when someone came to you describing a life shattering experience that they were going through and as they talked, you pondered on your own life shattering event that was also currently taking place. It’s interesting how and why God sends people our way for encouragement.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 1, Paul describes God as our ultimate source of comfort. He says that God comforts us in all of our troubles so that we can comfort others with that same comfort when they are troubled. God is there to hold and console me so that I can go and hold and console my neighbor. It’s not of my own power or strength that I’m able to encourage someone else while I’m going through, but it is literally the strength, power and comfort of God allowing me to uplift and incite the power of God in someone else’s life.
I’m thankful that God has graced me with a level of faith to lean into His strength when I am weak. But man, oh man, here lately I have found myself having to encourage people while I have been struggling to get to the feet of Jesus myself. It’s not easy to do but God’s grace is sufficient because the people never knew that I was dealing with a struggle during that time. I’m thankful that God comforted me my stuff so that I could walk alongside someone else through theirs. In my faith walk, I’ve learned that facing the world’s troubles WITH God is much more bearable than facing the world’s troubles without God!
John 16:33 reminds us that Jesus didn’t promise us a life without trouble. In fact, Jesus said that we would have many trials or tribulations in this world. But the promise that we can stand on and believe is that He has overcome the world. In the midst of the troubles and sorrows of the world, Jesus CONQUERED it all. With that promise, my hope is renewed and I can remain confident in all of the promises of love, peace, joy and victory that Jesus said He would give.
I want to remind you today that Jesus has complete control over everything. And that Jesus has defeated the troubles of this world. Stand in hope knowing that because of Jesus, you also can overcome and claim your VICTORY!
