The very first lesson I learned about overcoming discouragement happened on Sunday morning during praise and worship. I can't remember what we were singing, but I was feeling down and couldn't bring myself up to a place where I could truly glorify God and praise Him. Then we started singing a song, and I feel something in me leap. And a little bit of light shown into my darkness. And I got excited, I reached out to God and he poured strength into me to give me the ability to truly praise him in song. I distinctly remember standing up front with the musicians and playing my violin and this joy just filled my soul and I could only think about God and his love and mercy, and everything that He had done for me. I was happy I wasn't discouraged and all I could think about was praising God. For days afterward if I at any point felt discouragement creeping in I would just start to sing, or hum, or if I was at work or somewhere like that, just think the song. The discouragement will flee. Why, well... because when you are praising God and your thoughts and totally turned on Him, there is no opportunity for the devil to get his foot in the door. This is what I wrote during that time.
God never wants us to be down trodden.
It's amazing to me how you can go for a day, or days, or a week or even weeks on end feeling down trodden and searching for answers. Pleading with God for somethig; and anwswer, encouragement, whatever it is that you need. And then you get to a place where you start praising the Lord, giving Him the glory and honor, and just telling Him that you love Him. And in that moment of time all your cares go away. You suddenly no longer care about the problems, the searching, the pleading for an answer. Suddenly, you no longer care. It flees your mind and all you care about it God.
This song has really been an encouragement to me during my recent struggle. It reminds me to press on and thank God all the time even when things aren't going the way we want or wish they would. To thank for Him life, food on the table, friends and family. You get the idea.
2 comments:
Those who suffer from depression don't have the feeling of "downness" completely flee when they praise Him, it is simply an act of the will, which gives strength and perseverance, even if not actively felt joy. There is a kind of joy that is hidden, that makes us want to do His will, even when we feel really, really bad, emotionally (i.e., on the surface). I would like people to recognize that, and not be discouraged if they can't feel completely joyful.
I am glad you are getting the victory! I'll keep you in prayer- and we can both overcome!
...So what was the song?
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