How do you make it through seasons of discouragment?
Do you wear that discouragement on your sleeve in an effort to gain sympathy?
Do you hide the discouragement in an effort to deny your human vulnerability?
Do you attribute that discouragement to the unjust misdeeds of others?
Do you plan how you’re going to settle your heart and mind by punishing the one or ones who disrupted your corner of the world?
I pray that you have no seasons of discouragement in the year ahead. But I also know that you and I are in a spiritual world within which forces of darkness are trying to extinguish the Light within us.
Bad things sometimes happen to us as Satan is allowed by God to harrass us. It’s important to remember, though, that such allowances are made because of God’s desire to see us demonstrate our trust in Him and our ability to live in the pattern of Christ.
Satan sees our discouragement as fertile soil for thorny vines that can creep here and there and strangle all sense of fruitful living.
God sees our discouragement as fertile soil for prayer seeds and vines of Christian service that send faith roots deep into the ground in search of Living Water that shallow believers never tap.
Here is a passage that I read this morning in the One-Year Bible that stirred and strengthened my faith.
“When I am overwhelmed, you alone know the way I should turn. Wherever I go, my enemies have set traps for me. I look for someone to come and help me, but no one gives me a passing thought! No one will help me; no one cares a bit what happens to me. Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.” (Psalm 142:3-5 NLT)
If a relationship with God is all we really want in life, then there is no reason for us to fall into depression. Yes, even the strongest of Christians have times of discouragement. But those are to be times of reflection, redirection and connection with God.
He will never forsake us.
That’s a really good thing to know since He is the One who always knows the way to a better life and showed us the way through the life of Jesus Christ.
Feeling overwhelmed lately? Run to Jesus.
He’ll get you to God for the help you need.
Remember, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life and nobody gets to the Father except through Him (John 14:6).
There isn’t anything more important to want in this life than to be in relationship with God.
As always, I love you
Martin
