Is discouragement keeping us from moving forward?

I’ve been on that coaster ride.

Excitement brews as we climb upwards; we receive good news, gain acceptance, taste a victory. Joy bursts forth, and the bounce in our step feels like we’ve downed five cups of coffee.

But what happens at the top? You can’t sit there forever.

Heart in throat, here comes the plummet; screaming our heads off, we reach hands to the sky. What a rush.

Then the thrill is over. The been there done that, and you find a fly in your coffee. No lie, I just looked down and there’s a fly in my coffee.

Ah, disgust, another dis word.

Could all of our discouragement, disappointment, disenchantment, disillusionment be a result of…

disbelief, disobedience, disorder, and distrust in our lives? These dis words can distort the truth.

I’ve sure been guilty of these things in my coaster-riding life.

If we ask ourselves if we believe, if we’re obedient, if we have order in our lives, and if we trust God, we say yes; at least, we want to say yes.

But what happens at the bottom of that coaster?

Here’s the thing,

I don’t even like coasters. Actually, I don’t mind the sideways swirl-upside down kind, but absolutely dislike the click-click-click to the top, plummet to the bottom. I know some of you might, but my stomach can’t take it.

Here’s another thing,

life has highs and lows. It’s a given.

Truth is,

We learn more, grow more, and seek more in the lows. If everything was a high note, we’d miss critical lessons in who we are, what we’re here for, where we need to be, why we need to remember God still reigns, and how our life plays a major role in this big picture.

Here are important keys to giving discouragement the BOOT:

• Believe –And Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ it will happen.  And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:21-22
• Obey – And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:32
• Order –Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. Colossians 2:4-5
• Trust – But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. Psalm 5:11

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and believe He will do great things. Prayer is powerful. Believe it.

Obey may be a strong word, but whether we realize it or not, we all obey something. Obeying the lusts of this world is no comparison to obeying God and receiving the Holy Spirit. Wow, I’m in. How about you?

Order can be a tough topic, and we may be more familiar with messy. Don’t fret about a messy house, toys on the floor, dishes in the sink. Those messes can cause discouragement, but as long as we have true order in our lives, being sure God is first, it’s okay to step on a few toys and break out the paper plates.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. When we lean on our own understanding, we can sure make a mess of everything, can you relate? Let’s lean not on our own understanding, but acknowledge God in all our ways. He will direct our paths, and He is trustworthy.

Feeling discouraged? I’ve been there too. Let’s remember to trust God.

Let’s remember God has plans for us, and there is an order to those plans. You don’t add eggs after baking the cake.

How’s that for a word picture?

When feeling discouraged, remember the eggs are added before 350 for 35 minutes. And I don’t recommend sticking ourselves with a toothpick, but if we did, we’d see God is not done with us yet.

There is a dis word I love, disciple.

A disciple discovers God changes disgrace to grace.

And discouragement to encouragement.

The enemy loves a bunch of discouraged Christians, that should be reason enough to give discouragement the BOOT. Let’s give him the BOOT too while we’re at it.

Together we can learn in the lows, and move forward.

Share a comment, your words are encouraging to me. I’ll go first…