Discouraged and frustrated - Where's my shield?

Today, I am discouraged. Oh, I have hope but it is clouded by the Enemy's arrows. Like that term? I stole it (sort of) from the Bible study we are doing called Putting on the Armor. We are supposed to pick up the shield of faith, which is something else I have.

I have hope and I have faith. You would think that would be enough. But today, I just feel discouraged and frustrated. Today, I know what the devil's arrows are. You see, there are things going on that seem to be so counter-Christian....at church. People are frustrated and discouraged. Good people. People who have faith and hope. People who LOVE Jesus. They are so frustrated that they are focused on what's bad. I'm not trying to diminish the issues. I just wish that we could instead focus on the good and look for ways to be proactive, instead of "there's no use". Instead of hashing and rehashing, we should stop each other in each other's tracks to refocus on what we can do now.

And what can we do now? Isn't that a good question? Well, I know many are praying. Some are even sincere as hard as that is. That is always a good start. We also need to individually give the issues over to Jesus to handle. He does it so much better than we do anyway. If each person could/would lay it at the cross each and every time arrows fly, we would eventually let Him have it completely. Those who are in the midst of it will have a hard time with this because it is so hard to release a burden as we are fighting it. It is also hard to see our part in the event.

I think this lesson tells us to pick up the shield of faith daily, constantly, asking for affirmation that God will provide a way out. This lesson even gives passages to help with discouragement (Joshua 1:9), when feeling persecuted (Matthew 10:28-31), when doubting that this too shall pass (Proverbs 3:5-6) and when tempted to dwell on the negative (1 Cor 10:13). I like the picture I found for this. It shows the enemy's arrows coming right at us and being deflected by the shield.

So what are my conclusions about this today? Today, I will wrestle with my discouragement and pick up the shield of faith to deflect it. I will pray in faith that God will work the situation out for His purposes, whatever they are. I will also know because I have the belt of truth that He loves us and has plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). We may not initially like God's plans but we have to know that they are perfect plans. We will come around to trusting in the plan, even if it means some change that we can't imagine right now, even if it means good for those others too, and even if we take to long to see the good because our focus is on the negative. What a pity when we do that!

Thank You God for the opportunity to meditate on You so that I can contend with discouragement and frustration. Thank You for the Shield of Faith that You help me pick up and hold. Help me to focus on positives, constantly looking for You everywhere, because You ARE everywhere. Praise be to You for Your perfect, albeit sometimes painful, plans. Help me accept. In Your most powerful name. Amen.

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