Have you been in a place where your eyes see nothing but discouragement?

[bluidkiti]

Sisters in Christ Worldwide

Let’s spend a little time with David this morning, shall we?

There he is. There he is sitting in that cave in the middle of the Judean desert. Enemies on every side. His future unsure. Separated from family and country. And an undeserved reputation of being “the bad guy” although he had no ill-will toward anyone, even the one who had begun that rumor: his enemy, Saul.

And in this bleak moment of his life, David wrote these words:

“O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek You! My soul thirsts for You. My body longs for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”
(Psalm 63:1)

Have you been there, sister? Have you been in a place where your eyes see nothing but discouragement and the one thing that you desire, the one thing that could turn everything around for you – God’s presence – seems like its a million miles away.

Let’s watch David some more and see how he handles this discouragement:

“I have seen You in Your sanctuary and beheld Your power and glory … On my bed I remember You; I think of You through the watches of the night. Because You are my help, I sing in the shadow of Your wings.”
(Psalm 63:2, 6, 7)

David’s mind left the present and traveled to the past, remembering God’s glory and wonderful works. His mind relived all those times that God had been by his side and protected him.

Why? Why did David look to his past at this moment? I’ll tell you why – because remembering what God has done for us in the past will give us hope for a bright future despite the bleakness of the present!

Presently David’s soul “thirsts for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.”

But now he had hope that in the future, his soul “will be satisfied as with the richest of foods.” (vs. 5)

So if you are discouraged today, take a moment and think of God and what He has done for you in all your yesterdays …

And I think that your tomorrows will seem that much brighter!

- Ruthy Hobbs

“Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
For I will yet praise Him,
My Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:11

Lord, I need You. I need You by my side today for my enemies are surrounding me. Although I don’t see you, I stand on Your promise that you would never leave me nor forsake me. You said you were near those who feared You. So I am standing on Your promises that you are near and my future is bright and shining because You will guide me in Your way all my days. Thank you, Jesus!

[MajestyJo]

The nice thing about it, is in today, I don't have to stay there, I have recovery tools to get me out of that space. It also helped me to recognize it in others and I could have some compassion for them, and share what worked for me.

When all is dark, then I found I needed to bring in some Light. As it says in Step Two, bring it out of the darkness, so the Light of Reason can shine.