To my friend out there that is discouraged.
-Discouraged by what she hasn’t overcome yet
-Discouraged by the giants she is facing
-Discouraged by her lack of progress *compared* to others
-Discouraged by the condition of her health
-Discouraged by 2020 and even the start of 2021...
I know the slippery slope of discouragement well. It can lead to passivity, mediocrity, resentment, bitterness, and at times even more striving and obsession.
I remember my dad once giving me a truth talk when I was in a LONG season of discouragement and, with love, reminded me that discouragement is a symptom of selfishness. I intensified my own season of hardship once I shifted my gaze off of God and onto myself. Something wasn’t going MY way, MY speed, and wasn’t MY preference.
By the way, the enemy loves to see us discouraged because it can prevent us from hearing God. It happened to the Israelites in Exodus 6:9. Moses was passing along God’s message of HOPE but “they did not listen to him because of their discouragement and harsh labor.”
Wow. Has your discouragement been preventing you from hearing the Lord and His truth? Has it stopped you from praying? It has definitely gotten the best of me before. We all will FEEL discouraged sometimes. But what if instead of living in it or being consumed by it, we come to God and PRAY our discouragement? Prayer fixes our gaze back on GOD! Who He is. What He has said. Who HE says you are.
Friend. God doesn’t just want to give us what we need, HE IS WHAT WE NEED! And right now He wants your heart not your hustle. It’s not about trying harder, it’s about surrendering faster. He wants you to come. Come to Him messy, broken, lost, discouraged… Matthew 11:29 Jesus says “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Rooting for you!