Encouraging Discouragements

I've had one of those weeks, I think you know the kind I mean. When everything conspires against you to bring you down, when the little things become too large and when curling up in bed and going to sleep until the next week starts seems the best option. There's been no major event in my life that could possibly warrant such a downturn in my spirits, but I'm assured by several good books and more than a handful of real life Christians that times like this are normal.

Normal, yes. Easy, no. I've (notice the word!) tried cheering myself up. You might be familiar with the routine - count your blessings - even write them down, have a little shopping trip - nothing too extravagant, just a little material pick-me-up, read a funny book, watch a funny movie, phone a cheerie friend (who incidently was out! how inconsiderate!!). Solutions to 'the doldrums' tried and tested by countless women I'm sure. Methods that don't help, well not in the long run anyway. Eventually the lightbulb appears comically above my head and I stop trying and do the thing I should have done before spending my money, lifting the phone or watching that film ('The Wedding Singer' in case you were wondering, very funny if you lived through the eighties). I lifted my Bible and spend some time and energy in prayer. It might surprise you to know that this didn't magically and instantaniously transform my day, or the rest of my week for that matter. Even today, Sunday, walking back to the car after a wonderful church service I overheard a short conversation which discouraged me again. But what that simple act of faith in turning to God did was to reassure me that I'm normal and taught me to hold on. A lady called Eugenia Price puts it like this:

'I no longer panic at dry or so-called dark periods....I learned long ago that if those times didn't come, we wouldn't be normal. How we feel- how I feel 'spiritually'- seems less and less relevant. What matters is that God is constant. He is the only constant.'

My husband and I had a chat this week about discouraging things, the things that are getting us down and effecting us. He pointed out that we should be encouraged that satan is bothering with us at all. Of course, it's easy to attribute things to the devil, but after some thought I've realised there's no other origin for discouragements as God is the source of all things good.

I often find that I'm drawn to songs which express times in my journey with God - there's always a song that your soul can cry out to God. There have been two this week that have helped me reflect on what God wants me to learn. They're both from the same album - so if you feel the urge to shop for whatever reason, your money wouldn't be wasted on Lou Fellingham's 'Treasure'. The track hard pressed starts: 'I am hard pressed on every side but I'm not crushed' When I'm down I know God is constant and I also know that with God the discouragements of life will never crush me. The other song which has helped me begins: 'You give rest to the weary, you bring strength to the weak. As they wait in your presence, there is grace for their need...'

So, if you're barely clinging on and feeling discouraged, don't let my story encourage you, let God's abundant grace encourage you, His constant, unchanging grace.

The book which made me laugh is 'Not A Super-Saint' by Liz Hansford.