A Trap (DISCOURAGEMENT)

A Trap -Discouragement

The Bible says, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.” Philippians 4:4 But, how is this done in light of the many discouragements and false starts in life?

This world is tuff. This past week we have experienced the “crisis of phones.” Since last week I have lost my phone ( LG4) to Verizon which unknowing to me, they legally do not have to return. (read the contract) Then to make matters worse they lost my phone number and haven’t been able to retrieve it till now. Beth’s phone number has gone missing to and still have yet to retrieve it. All this and more due to a series of hysterical missteps and mistakes by many different people. I will not bore you with the details. I know most would not see this as a “crisis”, but it is to us. I am sure you are either in a crisis, facing one, or will be facing one. That is just life. Sometimes it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The crisis may seem small to you but may be a mountain to climb for someone else.

How quickly we can lose our joy and be stressed out by the discouragements of life. These phone challenges are not life threatening though expensive will not financially ruin us. The Bible says, “The small foxes ruin the vineyard.” Small frustrations and disappointments can mount up and lead to despair. This can lead to bad decisions.

Stop and think, ask God to restore your focus.

Here are some questions and thoughts you can use to refocus and reinvigorate yourself.

• What is God doing? Don’t Know?

• Can we trust Him? YES

• Does He love Us? YES

• Is God still good? YES

• Does God know and care about all things. YES

• Does it all belong to Him? YES

It is amazing how reminding yourself of what you know to be true can reverse the downward spiral of discouragement, frustration, bitterness and defeat. – the fog lifts and the Joy returns.

We all face disappointments but we are not to wallow in them. We can trust God, We can go to Him anytime and anywhere. We can cast all our cares on Him because He cares for us. Remember there is a divine purpose for everything He allows to touch His children’s lives. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them who are called according to his purpose.”

If anyone had a reason to be discouraged the prophet Habakkuk. Things were really bad and had turned to garbage. There was a breakdown in social justice the Babylonians were threatening to attack – and much more. Habakkuk goes to the Lord on behalf of the people. Habakkuk pushes for answers. Finally he relents And says even though everything has turned to garbage, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:18