One of my great friends Angela, posted a YouTube link on Facebook in January called, “Cardboard Testimonies”. I watched in joyful tears videos of people holding a big piece of cardboard; one after the other. On one side they had written their tragedy or painful past. The flip side read how God helped them overcome. Some of the people showed physically evidence, like from bareness to a pregnancy, or wheelchair to walking. It was clear with some of the people that it was a miracle that they were still alive.

We all have a cardboard testimony. I started to think about my own testimony and all of what God has done in my own life and became grateful all over again.

Something else dawned on me while I watched all these people, different ages, races and from different parts of the world. God is good TO ALL OF HIS CHILDREN, not just me. It’s easy to feel grateful and express emotion when things are going good, but what about when you feel like your losing.

Is God even listening to my prayers, does He see what’s going on in my life, my friend’s lives?

Losing sucks and what’s more it can cost us more than we ever thought we’d lose; relationships, jobs, homes, even loved ones to death. While losing can come as a result of many things, a loss is still a loss. We can lose because of disobedience, being ill prepared, a trying of our faith and countless other reasons.

The weight of losing can pile upon our backs like heavy burdens forcing us to hang our heads with our eyes to the ground. We second-guess our abilities, confidence wanes and we become defeated. We even begin to doubt God cares about us. So how do we come out of this losing slump.

In Daniel 10, the great Daniel from ‘Daniel in the Lion’s Den’ is in mourning. He has been praying, crying, repenting and pleading to God for years because Israel is under attack and being destroyed. Their enemy is holding the people captive. Daniel is losing and so are his countrymen. God sends him many messages through dreams and visions but in Chapter 10, the message is clear to Daniel, he understands and it strengthens him.

The Messenger touches Daniel, lifting him up and reminds him that God loves him greatly. Just like HE loves you greatly. He tells Daniel that indeed his prayers had been heard in heaven and were answered the VERY FIRST DAY he began to pray. God has been answering our prayers all along. The messenger tells Daniel not to be afraid, calm down, be strong!

The book of Daniel is a prophecy of things that are to come on this earth, but what you can take out of this text for today is, even when you feel like you are losing and even when you are down, God hears you!

On the day that you look up and cry out for help, God hears you and answers right then. So in meantime, while you are waiting for things to change, be encouraged and remember these things:

We aren’t guaranteed a win everyday, but we are guaranteed a victory in the end! Daniel was further told of greater destruction to come but God leaves on a high note!

“Those who are wise, the people of God, will shine brightly as the sun’s brilliance!”

Daniel 12: 3

So lift up your head. Do it today. Be encouraged! You will be okay, we will all be okay.

Be Encouraged is a publication of Assigned to Encourage!™Design and layout provided courtesy of Integrity Designs

All written materials are the original work of the author. Copyright restricted. All rights reserved. Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible -

various versions.

Kira McConico’s universal assignment is to deliver encouragement to the hopeless through her Assigned To Encourage! ™

Words are powerful and can be spoken into dark times and bring light to life's situations.

In addition, Kira is an inspirational speaker. Her target audience is young women ages 17-30. She frequently speaks at area schools, domestic violence shelters and other organizations to encourage young women to pursue their dreams no matter their past.

While her target audience is young women, the message of encouragement is for everyone!

For booking information visit: www.assignedtoencourage.com.