Period of Discouragement
It’s all too easy to put on a face and pretend everything is all right. I do it. I do it a lot, actually… somehow it’s just easier for me to internalize things and give off the impression that life is golden. But life rarely is… life is full of hardships, discouragements, let-downs, struggles, disappointments, and just-plain miserable days.
It’s October 31st - Halloween. Someone jokingly passed me this afternoon and said, “Hey, nice mask…” and then walked away snickering. I wasn’t wearing a mask and wasn’t dressed up in the slightest. I was kind of in a tired, stressed, and bad mood at the time… I let it frustrate me more than I should have. I’ve been thinking about that - and though it wasn’t meant in that way, I see the truth behind that statement all too clearly. I do wear a mask… more often than not.
Having said that, I’m taking the opportunity to be honest. I’m tired… and I’m discouraged. School work is coming at me fast-paced… the days are getting shorter and colder, and it’s increasingly harder to find the motivation to be disciplined and diligent. Pray for me with that, if you would. The last few weeks especially have been particularly discouraging, and I can’t understand exactly why… I’m not used to being in a continual state of feeling discouraged. I would ask for your prayers.
Published on 31 Oct 2007 at 7:17 pm.
4 Comments.
Filed under Thoughts.
Praying for you, Philip :)I feel like this a lot too, and I don’t remember where I got it, but it reminds me of how I ought to live and it’s something I struggle with: Esse Quam Videri - To be, rather than to seem. The Lord is always faithful and will never fail. Psalm 66 is a good one - reminds me of how amazing our God truly is :)
Sophy on 31 Oct 2007 at 9:32 pm.
I think I do the same thing, Philip. Especially when other people around me are upset, I try to hold myself together so that I can help them. Sometimes that helps, but other times I’ve found that some people don’t want to talk to me because they think I won’t understand, which is upsetting. So yeah, basically I live a life that is constantly in conflict with the world and with itself. I’ll be keeping you in my prayers though =)
Jessica Chen on 1 Nov 2007 at 3:54 pm.
The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.”
Lamentations 3:22-24
Tomorrow is another day, Friend.
Jess Gauley on 1 Nov 2007 at 4:20 pm.
I can relate to you Phil on that. I know sometimes masks are put on because sometimes life just is miserable….Its a form of protection that we so often retreat to rather then finding the refuge under our God. To be honest with people is the hardest thing in life because it requires humility and humility is something that every person struggles with in their lives.
Take courage bro knowing that its just for a time that one struggles but it is in the end of that struggle that God’s love is always faithful, and always bestowed upon His beloved ones.
“Without struggle there can be no progress” Fredrick Douglass
joey on 3 Nov 2007 at 5:30 am.