A few months ago, I came across this short video. I’m the wrong generation to know who Forrest Frank is or to recognize his music, but I appreciated the simplicity of the encouragement in this video. We’ve all been there, dragging through a difficult day or time in need of someone to give us a little joy or universal truth. As a follower of Christ, we have the encouragement of God’s Word ever present in our lives and hopefully in our hearts and minds, but we also benefit from the encouragement of people around us.
In 2025, I purposed to pray for God to grow joy in my heart over the course of the year. Last year, I prayed for hope and saw Him answer that prayer in numerous ways. Despite the negativity in the headlines and on social media, there is reason to have hope and joy. To quote the song:
The God who made the universe
Knows me by my name
So it’s a good day
This is something that no one can change. We know that God knows us and loves us. These promises are echoed in Scripture. Psalm 139:1 says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” We have the opportunity to receive salvation from God, through Christ. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5
The Bible tells you of our value. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” God’s love “endures forever.” All of these are reasons to turn to joy over despair in the face of the difficulties of living here in this present age. Take some time today to find joy in these things and encourage someone you know with the same. These promises are eternal. They reign above the stock market, geopolitics and the headlines. Have a good day!
Seeing God 