“For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” — Proverbs 24:16
The past year has been filled with many ups and downs for all of us. We’ve had challenges and distractions in the process of arriving at this point in our lives, but we must be confident that we are in the right place at the right time.
Life is full of challenges. As we closed out 2013, we reflected on the things that went wrong and the things that went right. We gained newborns and lost loved ones; we made money and we lost money; we gained friends and lost friends; we gained church members and lost church members. To all of this, the Bible simply declares, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1.
Some of us have been disappointed by our situations, upset over outcomes, intimidated by our issues or depressed by decisions. Although you see the children of God going through tough times, I want to remind you — don’t count them out. We may look tired, our cars might be on their last legs, we may have declared bankruptcy, our children may have some issues, but don’t count us out!
In Luke 8:43-48, the Bible speaks of a woman with an issue of blood. She had been bleeding for 12 years, endured the discomfort and pain and was removed from a society that considered her “unclean.” She spent all her money. Then she heard about a man named Jesus and as a crowd followed Him, she decided to press her way through to touch the hem of His garment. Immediately, she was healed. Society had written her off, but she said, “Don’t count me out!”
So, my brothers and sisters, as we venture in to 2014, I encourage you to never count each other out. We might have to cry, we might have to crawl, we might have to run, but don’t count us out.
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” — Pslams 34:19

Hayes is the pastor of New Day Community Church and the president of the United Ministerial Alliance.