“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me'” (Billy Graham).
The past few days, I can’t control my emotions. I’ve lost sleep several nights in a row. And when I’m exhausted, I tend to be impatient and angry all the time.
Afterward, I regret how I take my feelings out on other people. Then, I begin a pattern of self-deprecating thoughts, “How could anyone who treats others the way I do ever encourage another person in their faith?”
Bad attitude. Honestly, when I glance into my own mirror, especially after I’ve allowed harmful words to spew out of my mouth, I can’t bear to look at my own reflection. Yet afterward, I often fall on my knees and beg God to forgive me. I also ask Him to somehow allow others to forgive me.
Today, after 48 hours of a bad attitude, I absolutely could not forgive myself. And as I prayed once more, God reminded me to look into the mirror of His Word.
Blessed promise. James 1:23-24 reminds me that if I “look intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and (continue) to do this, not forgetting what (I have) heard, but doing it–(I) will be blessed in what (I do).”
Even when my own mirror reveals my imperfections, failures, and weaknesses, the mirror of God’s Word reminds me of His strength and the blessings that I have received in Christ–for His “power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 2:9).
How do you deal with discouragement and frustration with yourself?
Photo/KarenJordan
What a raw and revealing post, Karen. I appreciate your honesty as it reflects much of my own battle. It sounds like something many people struggle with. Might make a good topic for a book, huh???
Yes. that book idea is on my “list,” too! And I sure do have a lot of personal experience stories for that one! I’ll at least write a few blog posts on that topic in the future. Btw, thanks for your comment, Anita!
As always you are an inspiration and give me encouragement. How can you always know what area I need help in. The yard and garden tend to relax me even though it is hard work sometime. Good exercise for the mind and body and to get in touch with my shortcomings which are many. Thankful that I can still do so many things and have such a wonderful family that will put up with me.
Thanks for your encouraging words, Carol! Sorry for my delayed response with your comment; for some reason, I just noticed it. I’ve been a little preoccupied with g-kids lately. Btw, I’ve planted a few tomatoes and flowers this year. So, I know what you mean about gardening being hard work, yet relaxing. I think it’s the mental rest that comes with digging in the dirt that helps me. Again, thanks for your comment.
I love your gardening analogy, Linda! I don’t do much gardening, but I do have a few tomatoes, peppers, and flowers this year. Yesterday, I had to pull out some weeks in my morning glories to make room for the new growth. Those li’l buggers can choke a flower to death, can’t they? But I tend to overlook them at times, just like I ignore my bad attitude. Thanks for the reminder!
I can totally relate to this…not always in words, but in actions. It seems that Satan loves to use our failures to remind us of our weaknesses and does a good job of clouding the memories of the times we did something positive. Writing helps me deal with all kinds of frustration…as does “gardening”. I say it that way, because I tend to prune plants and uproot weeds outside even when I can’t seem to do the same for my emotions. Somehow it helps me to release the frustration so I can see the actual problem more clearly.