Beating Discouraging Thoughts
Friday March 1, 2013
Doubt and darkness begin to settle on us when we begin to think that God is not coming through and that we are not getting what we think we deserve. We may not say those words but if we look below our feelings of dissatisfaction and discouragement that’s what we’ll often find. We “should” be able to have this or do that now – after all, we’ve been making the choice for some time to not drink and drug haven’t we? We’ve gone to treatment and done the hard work there haven’t we? We deserve to have more than a minimum wage job. Never mind that 6 months ago we couldn’t be trusted to even show up at a job on a regular basis in any shape to do responsible work. We’re “fixed now” so we’re worth more than entry level, minimum wage paying work. Why aren’t things going our way? If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT)
The more we entertain these kinds of thoughts and allow frustration to grow under our skin, the more easily the desire for the old “fun and games” lifestyle sneaks in. I deserve to have a good time, to have some fun, to take some time off, to do what I want when I want. Before long we find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time and we make the wrong move. Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. (1Timothy 6:6-9 NLT)
The key to overcoming the temptation to give up when discouraging times come is to recognize it for what it is – one more way the evil one is seeking to pull us away from God into a lifestyle that harms us and so many others. We need to say no to its pull and then trust God to protect us. Sometimes these temptations are taken care of quickly. Other times they seem to linger in our hearts and minds. This is when it is extremely important to walk closely with Christ, telling him exactly what we are feeling and trusting Him for the victory. That’s the time to stay close to friends and mentors and put their advice into practice rather than just listen and nod our heads when they speak. Often when we do this, we find that the peace and joy we seek breaks through quite quickly and everything we need comes right on time. More information on this and other related topics @ www.partnersinhope.ca/resources
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