Preparing for and handling despondency....

 

Down or despondent?

Some times in life we have successes.  Then these successes are followed by failures or hard times.  

We see this in the lives of authors, athletes, investors, pastors, politicians, ourselves, Elijah!

How do we handle this?

We need to KNOW that success won't always continue and we often are not responsible for the ways things go or the way they turn out.  

In I Kings 19 we saw that Elijah was very despondent and afraid after he had come through a magnificent time spiritually. Read this chapter if you have a chance.  I was really amazed at the tenderness God showed to Elijah as HE worked with Elijah in his time of fear and depression.  God provided a shelter, food, water, and even let Elijah see Him pass by.  

What causes us to be despondent? It might be the  death of a loved one, a loss (job, fire, health, wealth), success/something unsuccessful, politics,  stress, or fatigue. 

It may be the season of the year that causes despondency.  I remember some training we attended years ago that taught that we have certain times of the year that we may often be down. For me I think it is spring because life gets so busy!  For Gail the hard time of year is January as he has to be out in the cold caring for the livestock and it will be a long stretch of time until we get an income check in the fall.  The training said to recognize these cycles that return year after year.  Be ready for them and know they will come.  There are ways to deal with these times  in our lives. 

Dr. Robert Jeffress in his daily devotional gave some very good ideas.  

1) Manage these bad days by acknowledging them. Know there will be some days that will be  harder than others.  They will come.  They are caused by a variety of things but will come. 

2)  When you feel that way refresh yourself with food, water, and rest.  Physically do something for yourself.  Emotionally do something for yourself.  Then spiritually seek God and His face and His word. Draw close to God and HE will build you up.

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. James 4:8

Then tomorrow, next week, next month will be a better day....😊