By the way, it’s winter. Dark, dreary days don’t help to cheer the soul.
What to do? The pastor encouraged us to remember that we are a child of God, and He believes in our worth. I heard somebody else say to remember that our true treasure is in Heaven. I read something that said you have to have unwavering faith, and believe more in what He wills for you than what the world says. Nothing is permanent, and the Lord is the only one who determines what will be. There is a bigger picture. Today’s discouragement might be just that: today. Tomorrow can bring new opportunities, realizations, and hope.
This is all true, but what can you do when the disappointment overcomes you? Maybe you slipped off those resolutions, and are discouraged to have failed already. Maybe you faced unexpected resistance, consequences, or circumstances that you didn’t anticipate. Maybe you’ve come to realize that your expectations are unrealistic, and you need to make some adjustments. Maybe it isn’t what you expected. Maybe you’re frustrated because you’re stuck in a rut that you can’t escape despite working just as hard (probably harder) and being obedient to the Spirit’s leading, while those “pulling strings,” cutting corners, and making shady deals are stepping on you on the way up (I’ve heard this one several times lately). Or maybe you just have the winter “blah’s” and it’s hard to get going.
Yes, the world does have a way of building us up, just to knock us back down. As Christians, we aren’t supposed to pay attention to that because we’re living by a higher Kingdom. That’s true and ok, but you still need motivation for today. Unfortunately, I don’t know the answer except to tell you that you aren’t alone, and to look for things to be grateful for. Gratitude is a powerful motivator that builds on itself, and in time it can lift you out of the pit to find new motivation because it switches your mindset from what’s wrong to what’s right.
Remember that song that says “I get knocked down, but I get up again”? I know it was meant in a very different context, but keep that basic message in mind. We all get knocked down, so don’t fret because you can get up again, and it might not take that much to find your motivation anew. You might just need something small, like going out to lunch, taking some time to go on a Netflix binge, or relaxing over the long weekend to reset yourself and get going again. Just don’t give up. Never do that. There’s always hope – and that is the most important thing to keep in mind to keep you going, no matter how “blah” it seems.
That’s all today. Take care. Have a Happy Friday and a wonderful weekend.
Bye!