Saturday 10 January 2009

Dis-cour-age-ment (di-skur-ij-muhnt)

I've been developing a theory (we'll call it that for now) over the past few days/weeks. I am finding that the 'enemy' uses discouragement and doubt most often as weapons against children of the Most High God. (See my beginning thoughts on this here.)

My philosophy continues to be confirmed as I talk with various people going through personal and interpersonal struggles. Someone says or does something and thus begins the "discouragement tumble". The tumble into a pit where you feel like everything is hopeless, there's no possibilities, no where to turn, no one likes you, everyone hates you, might as well go eat worms...

It's not just the "big" things that can be used in the arsenal of D & D, little things work just as well. For example: potty training relapses (just when you think you're home free...), new school struggles, passing comments meant to negatively impact a fledgling ministry, sick children, not enough sleep, a blog post that you have to redo because the computer went on strike...I could keep going... But as long as there can be a small hit, a tiny strike, an intsy wintsy bitty bit of doubt and discouragement creep in...the whole tower of dominoes will come tumbling down...

As I was looking up some Scripture to share with someone struggling with discouragement, I came across this:

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm 27: 13 - 14

D & D are mighty weapons UNLESS you know the Truth. D & D have no power on those who will choose to wait and see the goodness of the Lord. I want to be the person who believes that I will see the goodness of the Lord no matter what happens. My weapon is hope. I have hope that tomorrow will be better.

May I be the one who chooses to not lose heart in the face of D & D.......and I will have the victory.

6 comments:

Sue J. said...

In the middle of discouragement is courage....and when you turn to God in the face of such times, He will grant you the courage you need to face D&D.

And, truly, it's the smallest stuff that gets the best of me, which makes it even harder to turn to Him because, really, why can't I deal with the small stuff and how can I bring the smallest stuff to Him (misperception, obviously)!?

Hang in there with Him!

Edie said...

Discouragement is probably the most effective weapon the enemy uses on us. Remembering the Truth that we will see the goodness of the Lord is an excellent way to battle the enemy.

My ADHD Me said...

There is absolutely nothing I can add to this post except to say that I loved it. It was very inspiring.

oh yeah (big ones, fat ones, long ones, skinny ones, good old. good old worms...)

Kelly said...

The devil does deal in discouragement. It's a battle we've all faced. Sometimes I fall, and sometimes I rise above it. But when I fall, he is always there to pick me up.

Heather of the EO said...

AMEN! (:

Núria said...

Thanks so much for leaving a comment in my blog! Nice to meet you too!

I'm not a religious person but you can count on me for good recipes, encourament, jokes, positive energy and good wishes :D