Dear Discouraged
Dear Discouraged:
Do not grow weary of doing good
by Jessica Lawson
To the Discouraged,
Every day when I woke up my gut reaction was to dread the day before me. I was in a state of mourning, grief, loss, and rejection by people who are not supposed to reject you. Every day going to work (the source of my pain) I would show up a little bit later and later. I walked very heavily. I stopped caring about myself. I stopped responding to messages outside of work. I just stopped caring. My heart was broken by my church, my workplace.
I cried at my desk, in the car, falling asleep. Sometimes I'd wake up still crying. Gossip was lurking in shadows. People walked up to me wanting to know dirt, not about my well being.
I got to a point where I begged the Lord to take the pain away.
Take away the hurt from caring, from sharing, from being genuine, from sharing the truth, from edifying others, from being unapologetically myself, from not lying, from not responding like the world. Take the pain away.
And in my desperation, my heart heard a few words: "You're not done yet."
My anger turned to weeping.
My rage dissipated into a sea of tears.
My fellow discouraged friend, when we call Jesus our Lord that means He is our boss. That means He calls the shots. That means we are His workers, His servants. We don't get to backtalk. We have work to do.
Nothing changed altogether. My hurts were still there. But every day when I woke up my gut reaction changed to falling onto my knees. I was in a state of dependency, purpose, peace, and comfort from a God who never rejects us. Every day going to work - the frontline of my battle - I would be a little more joyful and a little more joyful. I walked taller. I started caring about those around me more. I started playing catch up on my neglected relationships. I just started caring. My heart was beginning to heal from the hurt my church and workplace caused me.
I still cried. But I started to be intentional about bringing truth into the dark places. I listened to worship music constantly -- at my desk, in the car, falling asleep, and sometimes immediately when I woke up. The Truth was brought to the light. People walked up wanting to know dirt, and I shared about the goodness of God.
I'll leave you with the verse that carried me through the deepest pain.
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
The next time you are near a fountain, a body of still water, or even a big puddle from some rain. Take a small pebble. Toss it in the water. And see the ripples. Try to count them.
The smallest act of faithful obedience to God produces limitless ripples in His kingdom.
To the Kindred who is walking through a painful relationship, Jesus is with you.
To the Kindred who is unseen and unheard at work, Jesus knows you.
To the Kindred who gives their best and it's not appreciated, Jesus sees you.
To the Kindred who doesn't understand why they're in the season they are in, lean not on your own understanding.
To the Kindred who is angry about the injustice they're walking through, Jesus is angry too.
To the Kindred who wants so much more than this season has for you, Jesus gives us an ABUNDANT life, wait on Him.
To the Kindred who is running away from God because of the pain, Jesus stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Let Him in.
To the Kindred who is close to giving up, Jesus never has or will give up on you. You are worth it. Please see the Cross.
Let us not grow weary in doing good...
for at the PROPER time...
we WILL reap a harvest...
if we DO NOT give up.
Stand tall friend. Rise to all that He wants for you in this season.
Sincerely,
Kindred