Encouragement for Your Heart

"Just keep trying. You'll get it."

A little voice chirped from behind the book stacks at my local Barnes & Noble. I thought nothing of it at first but a few moments later, the message hit the base of my ears again....

"Just keep trying. You'll get it."

The little voice chirped louder as it got closer. Okay, I thought, who keeps pressing the buttons on an interactive book?! I'm trying to concentrate over here. I returned to exploring my calendar options. (this "elaborate" process will be explained in a later post). But like clockwork the voice came again, silencing my concentration...

"Just keep trying. You'll get it."

That's it. I put down the calendar in my hand and proceeded to get to the bottom of this. As I turned the corner, I observed a little boy, his head held high with a book in his hand, walking boldly to the children's section, his parents in tow. Their faces were blank as he repeated his mantra:

"Just keep trying. You'll get it."

I stood there puzzled. I looked around to see if anyone else had heard this little boy. Why was I the only one reacting? A few moments later I began to feel that his repetitive statement had some significance and quickly typed it in my phone to read later. 

The next few days passed in a blur and I found myself at a high point of frustration with a project at work. My multiple "To Do" lists were still full and I felt that I was failing in so many areas. I was emotionally exhausted and mentally spent. I wanted to give up. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, I heard that small voice.... 

"Just keep trying. You'll get it."

All of us have very full lives. Can we just be honest? Our lives are completely overflowing and I don't know about you, but I mostly feel like I'm trying to survive my life rather than live it. We get lost in trying to accomplish so many things with little time, rushing from one task to the next, escalating our stress and without notice, fears come in like a flood. We PANIC.

What if I fail? I'm never going to get this done. What do I face when (fill in the blank) happens?

It's at this point that we need to stop and listen. Someone is speaking. 

It's Him. 

It's encouragement for our hearts. He whispers to us "Don't panic. I'm with you. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." (Isaiah 41:10, The Message)

It's His own way of saying, "Just keep trying. You'll get it."