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Have you ever found yourself in a pothole of discouragement or disappointment, wondering how on earth to give thanks when you don’t feel like it?

A few Susie Sunshines fill my world. They smile and offer an upbeat attitude to every pitch and unexpected curve ball thrown at them. And gosh, I sometimes wish that were me–especially when disappointment or discouragement hits.

But it’s not.

God made me to be me. And He made you to be you, and goodness, we are works in progress. And His strength? It casts sunshine on our gray.

It’s normal to face disappointment or discouragement.

But whether we journey with it or Jesus makes a daily difference.

God hasn’t called us to offer discouraging remarks or disappointing reports. He has called us to sit, stand, and walk with thanksgiving, even in tough circumstances.

Sounds easy. Check. Reality, however, assures a battle of God-sized proportions, so why not battle with His strength?

Not long ago, I faced a ripple of disappointment. Soon after, a huge, ‘ol wave of discouragement hit. Truth be told, those are the times when I feel weak, lackluster, embarrassed, even “less than.” I consider pulling into my shell, shying away from the solution and straight into the pity of my problem.

It’s a battle, and who wants to broadcast it to the world that we’re struggling? I’ve learned, however, that pulling the covers off darkness is the best way to begin the battle against it. And often, that means allowing others to come alongside us in prayer and support.

(Read more about that lesson here.)

So I pulled off those covers and shared the struggle with a circle of girlfriends. They stood alongside me with encouragement and prayer. Even more so, God surrounded us with victory.

That’s our Father.

God grants us victory with and through His strength.

I’m convinced thanksgiving is one of those strong devices the Lord offers for overcoming disappointment and discouragement. In the midst of my bout, He offered a new glimpse on how to give thanksgiving when the “feels” simply remain absent.

Give thanks backwards.

Huh?

Backwards thanks.

When we look backward, we find thankfulness.

In other words, what one thing, person, or circumstance from yesterday are you thankful for?

Then repeat it tomorrow.

And the next day. And the next day. And the next.

It works.

Why?

There’s always something to thank God for. (Gosh, that sounds like something our moms would say to us, doesn’t it?!)

So today, my friend, I encourage you to grab yesterday’s opportunity for thanks. Set it as an offering to God, allowing thanks to glorify Him and grow you.

I'm giving thanks backwards. Join me? Click To Tweet

Wiggle past that disappointment and discouragement attempting to wrestle you straight to the ground, and pick up the provisions of God. I’m right there with you, wiggling, too.

Action Steps:

I started giving thanks backwards recently. The Lord used those thank offerings to help me step up and out of the wave of discouragement. Will you join me, putting action behind the unction?

Note your backward thanks in a journal.
Tell someone.
Recite it out loud to God (“God, I thank you for…”)
List your thanks in the comments below.
Jot it on a paper and put it in a coffee mug or container.

However we handle it, God instilled in us the ability to simply give thanks…even when we don’t feel like it. And goodness, it proves wonders for a girl’s heart.

Thanksgiving

I’m thankful for you, reader. Make certain to visit the Subscriber-Only Library (password is in your latest “3” Connection Newsletter, in case you’ve forgotten) for a free “thanks” download.

I thank my God for you.

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Worst Parent in the World?

Ever feel like the worst parent in the world? It happens. Parenting is hard work, isn’t it?! Check out this Crosswalk piece for encouragement in the parenting journey, for times when you feel like the worst parent in the world.

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Do you see the batter?

He’s at home base, his foot scraping across the dust-covered white plate. Bits of powdery white lime, the substance used to mark fair and foul, and airy, brownish-orange dust mingle up into the air.

Tapping his cleats, two – maybe three – times on the base, he then bangs his left foot against the bat. A loud, clanging metal noise rushes into the air.

Then, raising his arm and locking his knees, the batter’s body stiffens in a confident, wide, victor’s stance. His finger finds and points to a space in the stands well beyond the outfield fence.

A roar rises from the crowd.

It’s his.

He’s calling his mark.

He’s declaring a homerun.

“Play ball!” the umpire bellows. And they do.

We’re not unlike that batter.

Each day of life is like a ballgame. You and I are the batters, teammates on Team Jesus.

Standing at homeplate with bat in hand, our brows often furrow due to discouragement’s pitch. After all, who likes to play an inning with discouragement on the mound? Life’s going well, them wham! Discouragement hits. We didn’t see it coming. Its curve took us by surprise.

I’m hitting the threads off discouragement this round at bat.

We targeted the barrage of discourging thoughts recently in this post. It’s been a battle for me.

But God is changing that.

He’s nudging that it’s time to hit discouragement’s pitch out of the park with a Holy Spirit swing. Are you ready?

Hit discouragement out of the park with a Holy Spirit swing. Click To Tweet

Curveballs, when pitched, seem to head in one direction, but then they curve.

We swing.

Then miss.

We sulk. (Well ~ I do. Maybe you don’t. If so, good for you. But for the sulkers of us, there’s more.)

Then we sit down in discouragement.

Take me out of the ballgame, Coach.

Why bother?

I can’t hit anything.

Blah, blah, blah…

So we sit down on the base, retreat into our own, little discouraged world, and, like a youngster trying on their ballgame skills for the first time, we doodle in the dust.

The game isn’t going to go well at this rate, is it?

If we want a different outcome, an eternally-focused homerun, we’ll have to set dust-doodling aside.

Here’s one help to prepare a batter after discouragement’s curveball.

Tell a friend.

You won’t be a bother. It is important enough. And no, you’re not sounding like a broken record.

Tell a friend.

But be selective.

Tell a Jesus-lover who will be intentional with scripture and prayer, one who will help you kneel at the feet of Jesus. Select a friend who will challenge you, offering annointed words that are the Hur to your Moses, the hand-holding Aaron so desperately needed to hit the ball out of the park.

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. EX 17:12-13 NLT

Who is your Aaron in the battle against discouragement? Click To Tweet

These next words were a “Hur” to my own “Moses”. Discouragement was the battle, but “telling a friend” refocused my eyes on eternity. Today, these words are for you.

Hold fast and fight strong, friend. God is greater and you are precious, prized, and loved…the Lord has reminded me that the devil doesn’t try and steal that which is worthless. He wants that which is of great value to the kingdom…and that is you!! Satan doesn’t get to steal what God is asking you to pursue, so open your front door and tell him he doesn’t get to take your identity and worth…then kick him out in Jesus name!!! ~ Tiffany Parry
That voice of discouragement is the enemy! He wants us to doubt. ~ Kristine Brown
The enemy wants to use anything possible to discourage. ~ Betsy DeCruz
That prowling lion doesn’t try to steal what’s worthless. You are encouraging others in Jesus’ name and that’s priceless. Press on, dear friend! ~ Abby McDonald
…we have an enemy of our souls who wants to snuff out the praise and Truth of God. Praying God lifts your head… ~ Lisa Appelo

So my friend, step up to the plate with your Jesus-confident stance.

As Deut. 31:6 says, Be strong and courageous….

Point toward eternity and call it over the fence with confidence – for Team Jesus.

“Play ball!”

Did you know?

#YourStory testimonies are posted here every 1st Tuesday of the month. Writers and regular folks just like you and me share how our amazing God touched their life in very raw and real ways. It’s encouragement unwrapped…just for you!

Past #YourStory testimonies can be found here.

Linking with Intentionally Pursuing, Purposeful Faith, Holly Barrett, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Holley Gerth, #w2wwordfilledwednesday, Thought-Provoking Thursday & Grace & Truth.

How to Give Thanks When You Don’t Feel Like It + FREE Summit Today

It’s normal to face disappointment or discouragement.

But whether we journey with it or Jesus makes a daily difference.

God grants us victory with and through His strength.

Give thanks backwards.

I'm giving thanks backwards. Join me? Click To Tweet

Action Steps:

Note your backward thanks in a journal.

Tell someone.

Recite it out loud to God (“God, I thank you for…”)

List your thanks in the comments below.

Jot it on a paper and put it in a coffee mug or container.

Thanksgiving

Worst Parent in the World?

Free Summit Starts Today

One Way to Overcome Discouragement’s Curveball

Do you see the batter?

We’re not unlike that batter.

I’m hitting the threads off discouragement this round at bat.

Tell a friend.

Tell a friend.

Moses’ arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. EX 17:12-13 NLT

Who is your Aaron in the battle against discouragement? Click To Tweet

“Play ball!”

Did you know?

Linking with Intentionally Pursuing, Purposeful Faith, Holly Barrett, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Holley Gerth, #w2wwordfilledwednesday, Thought-Provoking Thursday & Grace & Truth.