Will Spring Ever Come?

Snow in April. Freezing temperatures. Not much of a warm-up in the forecast. It looks like spring is never going to come.Some of you feel like that in your life. You see other people doing well. This friend is getting married. This person’s career is taking off. This relative just bought a dream house. When is your ship coming in?Some of you are not just weighed down by recent discouragement. It’s been a long time since there’s been any encouragement. And you are wearing down. When will spring get here for you? I hope these suggestions help.

• Make the best of winter. I did an entire post on this a few years ago here. There are a lot of good things you can do in the winter. Find all the positive in your life right now and focus on those things. Thank God for his goodness and rejoice in his gifts, however small they may seem compared to others. Someday, you may look back at today and realize some lost opportunities during this time. Instead, realize them now.
• Change the way you compare. We tend to compare our lives to people who have it better, and that leads to envy, or at the very least, discouragement. Instead, consider how much better you have it than many others. You won’t have to look hard. You are probably blessed way more than you are acknowledging.
• Stop watching the pot. You know the saying, A watched pot never boils. So stop looking for circumstance to get better. That will only make you more frustrated. Instead, do the above.
• Bless others. When I am discouraged, I find that the greatest encouragement comes by taking my eyes off my own problems, and focusing on blessing other people. Jesus spoke kindly to the thief on the cross and arranged for the care of his mother, all while being crucified! You may be going through a difficult time. Still, be a blessing to others. You’ll be surprised how that will affect you.

Spring will come, even if not before eternity. For the follower of Jesus, we are promised an eternity of joy. Discouragements in this life are a reality. But we can get through them. You can do this, if you don’t give up.“Let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9 NLT