FINDING ENTHUSIASM AGAIN

Some days seem like hard work and the longer we live in the ups and downs of the pandemic the more that seems true.  Sometimes we feel joy in the journey and other times we don’t seem to feel anything at all.  We can spend a lot of time looking at our feelings.  Sometimes we just get tired of dealing with it all.  How can we find the strength we need to feel joy and enthusiasm to move forward and grow and thrive again?

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.  Colossians 3:23

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15

Particularly when our emotions are a challenge it’s helpful to be able to lean back on God’s promise to be with us and get us through what we are facing.  If we will ask God for help and do what we can with as much enthusiasm as we can, we can expect God to help us through one more day.  We may not see the finish line, but we can have the satisfaction of living well one more day.

The Lord your God will fight alongside you and help you win the battle.” Deuteronomy 20:4

Part of finding enthusiasm again comes from seeing the progress made on a long and sometimes difficult journey.  We need to set goals for one hour or one day or one activity and give thanks as we accomplish them. 

Some of our discouragement may come from only having long-term goals that take time to reach.  It’s why the “progress not perfection” principle is so powerful .

Some other small but effective tools include practicing gratitude, taking time to find beauty in nature, listening to praise music, or trying something new and intentionally speak with sincerity and genuineness about it.  If we do these things, joy and enthusiasm will catch up to us again.

Heavenly Father, Help us to find rest and joy as we go through this tough part the journey.  Help us to lean on You and remember that You are always with us.  Help us to see where we are at from Your perspective.  We so often look at this set of experiences as something that will go on exhaustingly forever.  However, Your way of helping us find enthusiasm again is for us to see these days through the lens of eternity.  This is the tiniest of blips on the screen when we consider that we will live with You forever.

In the meantime, thank You for supporting us through one more day.  Amen