My All-Knowing God, I acknowledge that You do not need my advice or counsel. Your plans are perfect and are carried out in accordance with Your timing and will. I know that I will be shown amazing things meant for my good if I stay focused on You and allow You to guide me in the way I should go. Then why do I get discouraged and saddened when I place my faith and trust in You? It’s not that I feel I am doubting You … it’s more like I become despondent by Your delay in responding to my request or in alleviating my pain. And, of course, I have the Devil whispering in my ear that I am not important to You or You just don’t have the time to respond to my personal needs. I believe that to escape the effects of depression I must pour out my heart to You and trust that You hear me and will respond to my requests in Your good time.
If I truly trust You and believe that You love me, it will be easier to freely share my heart with You and believe that You want to help me deal with the things that I care about. I acknowledge that my thoughts are not like Your thoughts and Your ways are beyond anything I can imagine. Because my life is not my own, I must come to understand that by placing myself into Your hands, I have put my life (and all the things it encompasses) into Your hands also. Placing my faith in You is the only way I can please You. It’s foundation is built on trust and I must trust You because You are good and all good things (and outcomes) come from You. If I can learn to be still and wait patiently for You to act, I will not become discouraged and lose hope. I must count on You being my refuge from the storms that spring up in my life. You are the place to go when I become confused, feel threatened or lose my focus.
Through Your Word I am told of Your power to heal my broken heart, forgive my mistakes and omissions, and restore my broken life. To relieve my discouragement, I must look to You and become involved in serving others. In changing my focus from me to You and them, I escape the gloom and hopelessness that’s invaded my life. Worry and fear are my biggest enemies. Worry drags me down and extracts the energy I need for battle. Fear paralyzes me and causes me to become inactive. In times of discouragement, I tend to ask, “why me?” And Your answer is “why not?” Your life was filled with pain, discouragement, and suffering. As a follower, should I expect anything different? You overcame Your trials and I must trust that You can help me overcome mine. Through my perseverance, I believe that You will help me overcome my discouragement. And it’s in Jesus’ name I pray. AMEN!!
Psalm 42:5-6 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again … my Savior and my God!