Have you ever had one of those days, or weeks, or months when the world seems like it’s conspiring against you?
Yesterday morning I went out to check the garden for anything I could harvest. To my dismay, I discovered the giant kale plants I’d considered picking the day before were missing their leaves! Bare stems were all that remained. Concerned, I looked around to see if anything else had disappeared during the night. Then I noticed the sunflowers, or what was left of the sunflowers. The tops of the plants were taken! It’s difficult to get a sense of the damage from the photo above, but a good portion of each plant was eaten. Just like that, a season of growing, gone.
This may seem like a trivial loss in the grand scheme of things, but over the last few weeks, I’ve experienced a series of discouraging events. It’s been one minor challenge after another. I feel like my wheels are spinning and there’s no traction in sight.
However, this is supposed to be an encouraging message, and I was initially struggling to write it. Although it’s usually brief and may seem like it doesn’t take much thought, it actually does. I spend a lot of time in prayer and contemplation before I write each month. I’m honored and thankful that you take time out of your day to read this, and I want it to be helpful.
Today I prayed “How can I write encouraging words when I feel discouraged?” Immediately I felt the response was “Write about that.” So that’s what I’m doing.
Sometimes the stress of life just builds, and builds, and builds until you’re standing in your garden staring at half-eaten plants and wondering why in the world you planted them in the first place if they’re just going to get taken away. Why get back up when life keeps knocking you down? What’s the point?
The irony is you don’t get to know what the point is and that, in fact, is the point that should get you back up again! You’re not in control. All you can do is trust that what you’re doing is what you’re supposed to be doing, and that the disappointments you face along the way are going to strengthen you and direct you to where you’re supposed to go. There will be lessons to learn and discouragement to experience, but there will also be many blessings.
We all go through hard times. You can’t control that. All you can control is how you choose to react. How I’ve chosen to react today is to shift my focus off my petty troubles and create something for you–a word search and coloring page with one of my favorite scripture verses. You can download them here. I hope you enjoy them.
(By the way, as I was sitting on my porch writing this, two young deer wandered out into the field beyond the garden. Perhaps they were the nighttime snacking culprits. There was no mama deer in sight, and it appeared they were on their own as they continued across the yard and into the woods. Surely, God has a sense of humor to choose that very moment to show me those amazing creatures.)
