Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, should I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?” -- Ruth 3:1
Maybe you’ve experienced tragic disappointment in your life. Naomi could relate. She was uprooted from her home and lost her husband and her sons. Life’s troubles had darkened her spirit and turned her bitter.
But I’d like to remind you what Naomi did in the midst of her state of depression. In fact, it’s one thing that helped get her out from under the dark cloud of bitterness she was living in:
Naomi stopped thinking about herself and started thinking about someone else.
I don’t know where you may find yourself today, but if you’re down, I have a word for you: If you can get outside of yourself and start serving others, you will find any depression you have will begin to lift.
If you’re discouraged today, I encourage you to get interested in someone else! Get involved in your church. Adopt a family or find a child that you can share a gift with.
And certainly it’s important to share your faith. Nothing will lift your spirits and enliven your heart like sharing the Good News with someone who needs to hear it!
When you’re discouraged or depressed, the best thing you can do is to get your mind on the Lord Jesus Christ… to worship Him, to look to Him, to speak to Him, to open your Bible, and to ask the Spirit of God to mend your broken heart.
And when you will do that, watch God begin to restore and replenish and refresh your despondent spirit. To move your life from bitterness… to blessing.
BLESS SOMEONE ELSE TODAY. WHEN YOU OFFER A SMILE, A CUP OF COFFEE, OR PRAYER OF ENCOURAGEMENT, YOUR SPIRITS WILL BE LIFTED!
5 comments:
very timely as i have not felt so chipper lately. also, something i should be thinking of much more often than i do.
cas
great reminder to not focus on ME. i stink at this. honestly, i am selfish. i was thinking last night, why is it that as i have gotten older, life seems to get is harder and more complex. i seem to have more and yet i act and think so seriously and lack joy at times. and this feeling feeds on itself. I really lose perspective and forget how i should be focused on others. and worse of all, i probably do this with my family the most. instead of thinking about them, i take them for granted.
I echo both CAS and TRD. It is hard to always think of others before yourself.
LT
Last week at received an "AVERAGE" annual review. I was told that I needed to demand more from my team. In 15 yers with this company, I have never received a poorer assessment of my performance. It shook me up, to say the least. Since then, I have been "wallowing", out of sync, and focused almost entirely on myself. Suddently the road is uneven and without a known destination. This was a timely topic.
tba
tba, I can relate to the being distracted with the "woe is me" syndrome as I've had a couple of business dealings go the wrong way. However, God gave me one of the best weekends with my family, especially my kids.
I'll be praying for everyone to be outwardly focused. Please do so for me.
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