This Is the Way: A 30-Day Journey Through the Book of ActsSample

Jesus Is Standing by You

By Janna Briggs

But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” —Acts 23:11 (NKJV)

Have you ever felt like someone—or everyone—is against you? No matter what you say or do, you’re misunderstood, lied about, or just plain picked on? I sure have! I like to think of myself as a generally nice and decent person (most of the time!) so when this happens, it’s really hard for me. I question things I’ve said or done, weighing all my actions until finally I get to the point where I’m asking the Lord: “Why are You letting them be so mean to me? I don’t deserve to be treated this way!”

I know it’s okay to ask God questions. We see it all through the book of Psalms where David laments to the Lord: “Hey, God . . . I’m here, and everyone is against me! I’m hiding in a cave. Are You going to rescue me? Are You going to make this stop? God, there are people who want to hurt me, and I feel crushed, abandoned, scared, and weary. Are You going to notice? Are You going to fix this?” Of course, this is my paraphrase of many of David’s writings (see Psalm 9:13; 13:1–4; 22; 31:11–13). David and other heroes in Scripture certainly knew the trauma of being attacked.

In Acts 23, Paul has multiple high-powered groups of people trying to attack him or kill him. Every time he speaks, someone gets angry. He has been arrested; bound with chains; and by verse 12, there’s a plot to kill him. So many people are talking about the plot that Paul’s nephew hears about it, visits him in the barracks where he’s being held, and warns him about the ambush. I can only imagine how receiving this news must have felt for Paul. He was doing his best to follow Jesus’ teachings and share with others about His Savior so they might experience salvation and freedom as he had.

If you were Paul, wouldn’t you feel weary, isolated, heartbroken, and scared? But Paul’s not scared or broken. The night before his nephew warns Paul about the plot, the Lord made Paul a promise. It’s just this one short verse and yet it’s supernatural. I underlined it years ago in my Bible because it leapt off the page. It’s so brief, one might overlook it. But the hope and confidence we can receive from this verse is what we need to focus on today:“But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, ‘Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome’” (Acts 23:11 NKJV, emphasis added).

Yes, you read that correctly. Jesus Himself—the resurrected King of kings—stood by Paul in the night and spoke to him. He tells him to, “Be of good cheer.” The Lord isn’t saying, “Cheer up, Paul. Things aren’t so bad. Put a smile on your face and carry on!” In fact, “be of good cheer” in the Greek language comes from the word tharseo (θαρσέω) which means “be of good courage.” Jesus is acknowledging the dire situation and encouraging Paul at the same time. He notices Paul! He reminds Paul of the good he has already done in Jerusalem and gives Paul a vision for his future, all while standing by him. What a promise-filled picture this is for us in times of trouble!

Friend, you may never see Jesus physically standing next to you on this earth like Paul did. You may have trouble hearing His voice at times. But be of good courage. He is there! When circumstances are bad, when people are against you, when lies are told about you, Jesus is standing by you and will never leave or forsake you. He sees you, and He knows how hard you’ve been working. He has a purpose and a plan for you, and the God of the universe will help you see it through.

Prayer

Lord, help me feel Your presence in a real way today. I need to know You are there. Holy Spirit, please speak to me and comfort me. Even when my circumstances are bad and I don’t see good things ahead, You are good. Your ways are good. You are mighty, and even mountains melt beneath You. Please help me remember to trust You when my circumstances aren’t changing and when it feels like people are against me. I know You are for me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

• Today, remind yourself of all the times God has been there for you. You can write about them, draw them, or even sing about His goodness to you.
• Read Psalm 8 aloud and consider memorizing it.
• Write down any specific areas where you feel opposition or confusion. Then, ask the Lord to stand beside you in those moments and to give you a word of encouragement, just as He did for Paul. Listen for His voice and seek His promises in Scripture, letting them guide your steps forward with confidence and courage.

For Further Study

Acts 23; Deuteronomy 31:8; Psalm 9:13; Psalm 22, Psalm 118

Holy Spirit, what are you saying to me?