Ever felt beaten down, discouraged, disheartened, and downright drained? I sure was feeling it early in the morning as I walked to my car. I was sharing with the Lord just where I “really” was emotionally and spiritually. I had just been asking Him for a little extra grace for the day, a little extra manna from heaven to lift my countenance. I always know where to go and when I need more of God’s filling. Then, turning my key to start 
my car…nothing happened. I spent the next 15 minutes trying to get my car running. (I’ve got some kind of locking device problem). There I sat, alone in my car, struggling with what I was feeling. It was as if my hope was dashed, my prayer request denied, another door closed on me. So again, I called out God’s name in a prayer, begging for His help. I reminded Him that I was His beloved and needed more than this.
What do we do with our discouragements when we feel the financial squeeze and can barely stay afloat or when a disease has not only taken over our bodies (or of the ones we love), but also seems to take over our every waking moment with the unbearable pain?
What do we do when the depth of loneliness, brought on by missing someone or something, continues to make our heart ache? We keep giving the emptiness to the Lord to fill but still feel empty. Marriages can be shaky, kids are rebellious at times, friendships can disappoint, and we may never have dreamed that life was going to be “like this”. So, here we are, with all these unmet desires vexing us. What do we do? What do we do if our inner thoughts tell us maybe it is God who has disappointed us? How do I share these concerns with others without being thought sacrilegious? I don’t.
During those times when nothing “feels” good or right, that is when we have to go on faith of who God says He is. This is the time we *will* ourselves to believe — not based on what we see or feel, but because we stand on the foundation of Christ Himself. This is the time to dig into the scriptures for all those covenant verses God gave us knowing there would be times we’d be shaky and doubting and would need to stand on His word!
“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead
the great Shepherd of the sheep
through the blood of the eternal covenant,
even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will,
working in us that which is pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.”
- Hebrews 13:20-21
Don’t you love that? God sets our soul ablaze again with this simple but weighty truth we stand on (or fall on if we are too weak). He is the God of Peace who gave us a New Covenant – His Son! Though our struggles are ever changing, God’s promises to us never changes. It’s all about Him working it out in us for His glory.
After I finally got my car started, I had a good laugh later with the Lord as I drove away. I was cracking up with the knowledge that He allowed this situation so that I had something else to share as I write another article. Maybe something that connects us today? This world does not have a hold on us. Though we live in it, we are not of this world, and we are bound to be disappointed here. Heaven is our home and like a sailor that must keep his eyes upon the North Star during dark hours, we too must keep our eyes on The Prize. Our North Star is Jesus. Our time is short, and we are here to share our hope with those whom we walk beside daily and with those who don’t know the Truth. God pressed on my heart that I have and know my Savoir and can cry out to Him when times are rough…but what about those who yet need saving?
I am passionate about caring for the lost, so I must not allow my weariness to slow me down. So let us press on and press forward. Though we may be weary at times in this fallen world, the Holy Spirit refreshes and then strengthens us as we go out together in the power of Jesus Christ!
