“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!” (Psalm 42:5 NLT)
Have you ever had a string of bad luck? The fridge breaks down one week; the washing machine goes out the next. The minivan gets in an accident; the rental car you got to replace it gets rear-ended. There is no time to recover as wave after wave of misfortune smacks you in the face. Discouragement seeps in. Why is all this happening right now?
Discouragement stems from feelings of inadequacy. When circumstances are beyond our control, it is natural to be overwhelmed. We turn to other people for encouragement, calling on our friends and family for support. Many of us try to fight off discouragement by trying to improve our level of competence. We put our hope in ourselves, in our persistence, strength, and resourcefulness.
The antidote to discouragement cannot be found in our own abilities or the reassurances of others. These temporary stopgaps merely delay growth. There is only one good solution: Put your hope, your expectation, your confidence, in God. TRUST in HIM. Depend on Him completely. Check to see if you are clinging to anything else for security or significance. If so, let go. Surrender your desires, especially the desire for control. Detach from your long-held dreams, and allow the Spirit of God to take over. Ask. Listen. Follow.
“The godly face many dangers, but the Lord saves them from each one of them.” (Psalm 34:19 NET)
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