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"Encourage the Discouraged" "And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.And he said unto him, Fear not: for the hand of Saul my father shall not find thee; and thou shalt be king over Israel, and I shall be next unto thee; and that also Saul my father knoweth." ( I Samuel 23:16-17)David was going through a very difficult period in his life. He had done nothing wrong, and yet, king Saul was hunting him down like he was the number one criminal on Israel's top ten most wanted list. It wasn't one of those "bring him back alive" all-points bulletin either that Saul had issued, No! Saul wanted David dead!Not only had David done nothing wrong, on the contrary, he had been a faithful servant of the king. He had successfully fought the king's battles and soothed him with music when he was troubled. Why, he was even the king's son-in-law. He never said an evil word toward the king in response to all the evil that Saul intended upon David.After some time living as an exile, David became discouraged. Jonathan, Saul's son, had made a pledge of friendship with David. He risked his own relationship with his father when he went out on his own looking for David. When Jonathan found David, he encouraged him and helped David find his strength in God. Jonathan was obedient in searching for David and offering him help with that often-repeated Biblical greeting, "Fear not." Many times. we think that our efforts in helping others are in vain. But folks, when we are being obedient to God, helping someone else, it is NEVER IN VAIN.Perhaps we have a discouraged friend who needs our help to find strength in God. We can begin by encouraging them like Jonathan did by saying, "Fear not." We can show them the confidence found in that promise of Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Jonathan had indeed told his friend that he knew of the calling of God on David's life when he said back up there in verse 17, "... thou shalt be king over Israel."Is there someone you know right now who is discouraged? Are they down in the dumps and deep in discouragement? Well, the best thing any of us can do when we learn that one of our friends is discouraged is to forget about ourselves for a while, go and find them, and encourage their heart for Jesus. It's called love and that's what real disciples of Christ do (John 13:35).Friends, as we travel along on our Lord's Highway today, let's pick that one up who's been or is discouraged. "Encourage the Discouraged" is not just a message found throughout the Scriptures which needs to be preached; it's a service to others that needs to be practiced.