Rainy Days and Mondays

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Do you recall that song with the line “Rainy days and Mondays always get me down”? (I’m probably dating myself with this reference.) But it doesn’t have to be raining or a Monday to experience a discouraging day.

We’ve all had those days when life is not going as planned. We find ourselves hoping things will get better. Hoping things will change—whether it be in our marriage, in our finances, in our parenting or in our job.

Many times my feelings of hopelessness are not due to major, life-altering events or problems. Very often, they are the small disappointments I encounter throughout my day. When I am tired and stressed, these little moments of disappointment often build upon one another making mountains out of molehills.

Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.

Is there an expectation or desire of your heart for which you are waiting?

Is there an expectation or desire that has gone unmet in your life?

When things don’t go as we’d like or had planned, we can find ourselves frustrated, discontented and disappointed with life. In these times we either…

  • pretend things are better than they really are.
  • try to find a way to relieve the pain.
  • attempt to manipulate things to our desired outcome.

Yet, we remain unsatisfied and often end up with ruined relationships and being robbed of our joy and peace.

Accepting the fact life is hard and we will face disappointment can be difficult.

  • We believe the lie that we deserve more and we should be completely satisfied here on earth.
  • We are always looking for more.
  • We are more concerned about feeling better than finding God.
  • We want God to make things better, to fix it!

When we find ourselves spiraling downward in our disappointment and discouragement, there is a perfect place to plant ourselves.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I hope. —Psalm 130:5

I have this Scripture framed in my home. I need this reminder when my soul is disappointed and discouraged, waiting and longing. I find hope as I wait for the Lord—in His Word and His presence. Our culture often attaches negative connotations to the word wait.

Wait – to remain inactive or stay in one spot until something anticipated occurs; to be in a state of readiness. (American Heritage Dictionary)

When we are feeling hopeless, wait is not the word we associate with hope. When things are not going as planned or we find ourselves in pain, remaining inactive or staying in one spot is not always our first reaction.

I have long loved the word for wait as defined in the Old Testament Scriptures. I discovered it many years ago when I found myself in place of hopelessness, feeling defeated and overwhelmed.

Wait – to bind together (as in the twisting of a rope); to look eagerly for, to linger for. (Complete Word Study Bible and Dictionary)

In moments of discouragement and disappointment, I need the prompting to look to the Lord, to draw close and cling to Him. His Word always lifts my spirit and renews my mind.

The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks him. —Lamentations 3:24-25

If you find yourself in a discouraging or disappointing place today…

  • Look to Jesus and find hope in God’s Word.
  • Wait for the Lord and place your hope (your expectation) in His Word.

He will meet you where you are and encourage you with His Word and His presence.

Rejoicing in Him!

Copyright ©2016, Susan Cady, susancady.com

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Susan Cady

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