Gray Days: Thoughts on Discouragement

“Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

---

When our children were little, we spent many hours reading together.  One of their most favorite stories was Dr. Seuss’ My Many Colored Days.  It’s was a delightful book that described emotions through the use of colors, animals, and insects.

 

The book was so much fun to read aloud and act out, but I must confess that the page with the owl was the one I paused on most often.  Its message hitting me deeper than all the others.  The eyes of the owl were large, round, and searching, and the words printed beneath them were:

 

Gray Day…Everything is gray.

I watch.

But nothing moves today.

 

Nothing moves.  Isn’t that the essence of discouragement?  That profound feeling you get when life is stagnant, relationships are lukewarm, work is routine, or your body is spent.

 

Discouragement is courage gone away, and what takes its place is a mindset of despair and disappointment that threatens to pull us away from the possibility of any joy, hope, and purpose we can have.

 

It’s an inescapable feeling, but it isn’t an inescapable place.

 

A disposition of courage is just as readily available to us as is a disposition of hopelessness.  However, I believe discouragement weighs more and costs more in terms of how it wears down our soul, effects our relationships, and especially in the way we view our Lord.

 

So what do we do when it’s gray for a day, or for a season, or for what seems like a lifetime?  Here are my humble thoughts on the matter:

 

 

Expect valleys.  One of the quickest roads to discouragement is for us to get tangled up in the notion that our life; our Christian life, doesn’t come with troubles.  Sometimes we treat God like he’s our personal bubble wrap, completely protecting us from the thrashings of this world.  Yet, when we discover a bruising or a brokenness despite our “packaging”, we falter in surprise.  God said, “In this world you will have trouble.” (John 16:33) Not, “You might” or “There’s a good possibility.”  You will.  The question is, what happens in the face of it?

 

Watch the brainwork.  Half truths from Satan will sound like whole truths from God if we‘re not careful where we choose to let our mind dwell.  What was God’s character like when things were going well?  Did you trust him? Was he caring?  Did he possess strength?  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)  Our situations change, but God remains.  Trusting in his steadfastness is essential to getting the gray away.

 

Get going, but don’t travel alone.  Rarely do we seek change when things are going well.  We don’t typically say, “I have the most perfect, fulfilling job, I think I’ll quit.” or “My marriage is completely amazing, I think I’ll get a divorce.”  Change often comes out of necessity.  There is a lost sense of control, and to counteract the uncertainty, we grasp for anything that can slow down the crazy ride we’re on.  We take action and start to plan, but if God isn’t the plan, our crazy ride can go on a lot longer than necessary.  “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)

 

Don’t neglect the bonus feature.  The Apostle Paul mentioned in his letters that he had to endure much during his ministry, yet he also spoke of those trials as the “glory of suffering”.  “But we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)  If our eyes stay fixed on our limitations, or on the way things used to be, we can miss out on the growth and character building God has in store for us.  Why do bad things happen?  I can’t truly say, but I believe it involves a growth and a transformation of our character so that we will be of greater use to God.

 

Obey Papa.  Life is about choices, and discouragement is no different.  We can make choices that will ground us in hopelessness, keep us captive by it, or swallow us up in it.  We can also make choices that free us from it, so that we can heal and grow beyond what we thought possible.  How do you do it?  Well, we just simply do what Papa tells us – over and over:  “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. (Romans 12:12)  We may not feel like it at first, but just as we delight in God’s faithfulness, he delights in our faithfulness to him.

 

 

Hope in Motion

1. Read Psalm 71:20.  David speaks of the many bitter troubles he went through, yet he has a hope.  What is his hope, and does it encourage you too? Share your thoughts!
2. How do you deal with “Gray days”? Share in the comments below!
3. Is God your plan when change comes?  What steps do you take to make sure he is?  Comment below.