"Living Life God's Way"

4/28/2008

The goodness of God is infinitely more wonderful

than we will ever be able to comprehend.

A. W. Tozer

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New Strength For The Discouraged

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you.

Psalm 42: 5-6

Divorce. Unemployment and economic uncertainty. Budget deficits. Financial disaster. An unmet goal. Cancer. A major disappointment. Those are just a few of the potholes of the road of life. And they can easily lead to fear and discouragement - energy sapping, heart breaking, bone wearying discouragement. That's what the Psalmist was feeling, when he cried out, "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?" Can you relate?

Discouragement may be unavoidable, but it need not be terminal. Let me share with you a few insights to help you climb out of the pit.

First, remember how God has been with you in the past. Allow God's part faithfulness to become a foundation for building hope for tomorrow. Remember that on the cross of Christ, God reaches out to us in our own troubles.

Second, look for the lessons. If you'll keep your eyes and mind open, you can learn something in any and every circumstance. It's not always productive to ask "why" something happened, but it's always productive to allow your circumstances to help you to grow in some small way.

Third, be patient. In our fast paced, microwavable world we often  want immediate solutions, but the most important lessons in life are often slow cooked in the crock pot of tough times.

Fourth, reach out for help. Sitting alone in a pit is not fun. Nor is it productive to whine with other pit dwellers! What you need are people who can lift you up, people who will pray for you and speak words of hope when you can't find hop in your own heart. Don't go it alone.

Fifth, and most important, pray. Ultimately it's God who heals our hearts, lifts us up and restores us. It's God who helps us to grow deeper and stronger. Allow God to use your difficult circumstances as a hammer to shape your character.

Sometimes life can be the pits. That's just the way it is. But with God and God's people on your side, your pits don't have to bottomless.

Faith @ Work; 2/25/2005

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