Don’t let discouragement pile up. Guard your heart…

For the past few weeks, I’ve been feeling an extra dose of discouragement. There’s nothing dramatic going down, no crisis or cause for alarm. It was just a convergence of real life happening all around me—people I love with broken hearts, minds, bodies, relationships and lives. It started to pile up and, in my gloom, I inadvertently started to focus on the circumstances and felt very alone.

Then, one day last week, I saw something on my morning walk that flipped the switch back to a productive place. A lone flower, brightly blooming among dirt, gravel and weeds. I felt like it was God’s little metaphor…

“You GO girl! There IS hope—I am with you. Are you with Me?” 

You know, there are times in life when stress and discouragement pile up. Without intentional guardrails, burdens can creep in, take over your soul and define your reality with helplessness, fear and hopelessness.

I'm engaged in the world around me—on purpose. I don't want to lose touch. There is good to be found. Work to be done.

On the flip side, I don't want to be so absorbed I lose my compass.

I’m rearranging my schedule to prioritize these key areas first, and the rest will fall into place.

• Sleep and exercise. Meeting a friend at the gym at 5 AM every day this week will most certainly get me to bed on time at night. It’s a domino effect.
• Focus and flow. A few times a week, I’m going to turn off email for big chunks of time to still my mind and engage on important projects that yield the biggest returns.
• Read and discuss. I’m launching two new book groups, one at home and one at work to keep learning new things with the people I’m doing life with.
• Faith and fuel. I'm listening to extra message podcasts throughout the week and starting each day with a new devotional to keep my engine running undistorted.
• Marriage and family. Pre-scheduling date nights with Mark and family nights with kids.

The action items might look different depending on the season, but that’s the highlights for this reboot. What about you? What does it look like when you rearrange your schedule to flee a rut? Leave a comment ... share your story. At the end of the day, I'll randomly draw a name from all the comments (Congrats to Andy Waggoner! He won the book drawing.) and give away a free copy of Mark Buchanan's new book Spiritual Rhythm.

Comments

[levittmike.wordpress.com]

Wow, is this a timely post for me. Thanks Kem for sharing.

It's a reminder that there is cause and effect with our choices, and if we choose discouragement, it will affect everything else.

Blessings!

[Larry]

I had a very cool follow-up 'lift' after your post. When I got home there was a package waiting for me. Someone had surprised me by sending me a copy of - guess what - Buchanan's new book Spiritual Rhythm (!!)

I'm going to hold on to that as my little red flower right now! :)

[Leanne Shawler]

It must be reboot season. Since June, I've taken the time to do morning and evening prayer -- this isn't just "Our Father" and intercessory prayer, although both play a part of it: its praising, reading psalms and scripture as well. It tends to have a calming effect.

I'm also trying to go "on retreat" once a month, but we'll see how that holds up closer to Christmas... I have one scheduled in September--a whole week!

[Rebecca]

I am in the midst of this "rebooting" as well after 3 years of working as the communication director for a large church right out of college. I let all the crazy things I can't control about working at a church dampen my desire to be here. The Lord recently nudged me and said, "This is my bride you're helping...be kind to her and do your best to care for her." So I'm taking that Word and changing the way I view the purupose of my work and the way I think about/treat myself and others as His children.

I haven't got it down quite yet, but His perspective on my approach to life is shining through a little more each day!

[Courtney Miller]

Rethinking our personal and professional life is necessary for growth in every season... I've been exactly where you are and repurposing my personal vision and direction (for self, family, work, etc) has made all the world of difference. It's not the easiest thing to do, but worth it... it's definitely worth it! Still growing and still learning and so glad to know that I'm not alone. Thank you Kem!

[Laurel]

Thanks so much for this reminder - I have been letting so many things bring me down and also focusing on the down side instead of all the GREAT things around me that are constant reminders of who I am in Christ! Even this morning in my devotions this was drilled into me as well - Philippians 1:4 - to pray with JOY for my friends - that was just such a great revelation to me. I am going to be prying more with joy instead of doom and dread. The things of this world are just that - of this world. We are living for the kingdom of heaven!

Have a blessed day!

[Christine]

Thank you for writing this. That is right where I have been, too--so much hurt around me and I've let it become my own with no constructive way to process it.

Today I hit the gym to prep for my upcoming 5k that I'm running to support a friend's friend who has a 1yo daughter with brain cancer. While I was running I was just grateful to have an outlet for my emotions.

Spiritual disciplines--when I do them (heh)--are sort of an outlet too. We take in so many things during our days but don't have time to process or refine them into something we can understand and learn from.

I'm glad you posted links about podcasts. I could use those too.

Would love a shot at that book, please put my name in the pot!

[RalphYoder]

Kem - thanks for the reminder, the suggestions, the encouragement. Grateful for your authenticity.

[Kate]

Thank you for your post. It's so good to know that I'm not alone in this! After leading the team while my boss was on sabbatical this summer, I feel like I need a vacation just to recover! Will take your post as encouragement to keep striving for the rhythm that keeps me sane! Thanks!

[Tonja]

It's interesting, because lately I feel like I'm that flower, only I'm in the middle of a footpath and people/things keep stepping on me. I wonder how many times I can spring back up before I break. Wondering if I need to move myself out of the way or just figure out how to redirect the traffic around me.

Thanks for the encouragement. Like so many others, it seems to be exactly what I needed today.

[Lori Bailey]

Oh, sister, you are preaching to me! A few weeks ago, I felt like I needed to take better care of my body so I started adding time to my daily walks and set a goal for three 8s per day: 8 glasses of water, 8 servings fruit & veg, 8 hours of sleep.

But lately, it's my soul that needs a tune-up - feeling too sensitive, too easily overwhelmed, too dependent on the perception of others. Thankfully, the new school year is helping us establish an earlier schedule which means I'm reading the Bible more consistently.

And since Learning is one of my 5 strengths, I listen to lots of podcasts like This American Life and Stuff You Missed in History Class to stretch my perspective and keep that part of who I am well-fed.

Thanks for continuing to be so transparent!

[Dede]

The best part about this post for me is the flower surrounded by the hard dirt and rocks. It's a great metaphor for how i feel these days. Struggling through all the hard stuff just to be what God has intended me to be. Nothing more, nothing less. Just being here to glorify Him. I do get discouraged when it feels like the world is hard, cold and sharp. I easily forget about the beautiful sky above me and the promises that God has made. Thank you for reminding me to rethink, reengage, rearrange and reorganize. Especially my thoughts.

[Andy]

Thanks for this. Definitely something I needed to read today. The one word title of this post is: Priorities. God, family, exercise, sleep, learning, margin. Six things needed to really live.

[Ted Hicks]

It's always been amazing to me that the simple things you see in your day to day journey thru life makes the biggest impressions on you... like the flower...

Keep up the good work.

TH

[Karen]

You spoke directly to me! Like any good blogger, I blogged about it. I definitely need to "reboot" my life and you have inspired me to get started.

[jdillenbeck]

Thanks for this post..."Without intentional guardrails, burdens can creep in, take over your soul and define your reality with helplessness, fear and hopelessness." The truth in this statement alone is life changing.
Thanks again, I needed this!

[Jeff]

Thanks, Kem, for your honesty and willingness to share how you're moving forward. While usually the optimistic, faith-filled, forward-looking one in the group, the past couple of weeks have me scratching my head with doubts and discouragement. Thanks for the reminder that it's a season, that God never leaves us or forsakes us, and that leading my heart with intentional rhythms is a wise way forward.

[Lyndsey]

This was an awesome post...reminded me what I need to work on!
Lyndsey

[Larry]

Wow! Did I ever need to hear that today - thank you!!! It's been a rough month and a terrible week, with stress on a lot of different fronts. In reality, nothing is all that wrong, but I've been sucked into focusing on being discouraged instead of what God might be trying to do (or teach).

The switch won't get flipped (I don't need to just return to a productive mindset, I need to figure out how God can best use me where I'm planted), but hopefully now I can look up.

I'm in Indiana - if I lived 2 hr more north I would join you for that book club; been wanting to read Ortberg's book but would prefer to do it in a group :)

[Darrell Jordan]

Ok. first of all I need to know what time you were in Kentucky yesterday because you must have been looking over my shoulder yesterday. This post is such an encouragement to me right now.

I need to read those books you posted so I guess that is three more to add to my list. Misty will go crazy.

We are somewhat reworking our schedule so she can take a class by Beth Moore. I am supposed to be going to our Kidstuf rehearsals on Tuesday nights but I am going to just review the scripts and segment notes and get with our director during the week to get the set changes. We have a great setup and I can skip a few weeks and not miss anything.

We both feel it's important that she do this right now. I am currently reading The Sacred Echo and this morning it led me to John 21:22

I just have to remember now. Just follow Him.

dj