Ever feel Discouraged? Ever blame someone else for your Discouragement? Does this Discouragement come and go? Does this Discouragement mislead you to thinking you've failed? Nehemiah, New International Version (NIV) 10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall." Nehemiah's people were unable to finish their task as quickly as originally planned and, as a result, their confidence collapsed. They were thinking, "We were stupid to think we could ever rebuild this wall." Nehemiah is a great book to head to when discouraged!!! Like the labors rebuilding the wall we all are human and run out of energy, get distressed, discouraged!!! (FYI - I've been working putting in ten and a half hours a day with a number of other "laborers - carpenters. Building a huge retirement housing facility). So many laborers - Christians look at what they are going through and give up, and others see the lesson in it to be learned. At the end of our work week I saw all the debris lying around and could not imagine how we could accomplish any profitable task at all unless all this debris was cleaned up!!! I took it upon myself for the next half hour-ish to clean up the areas that we had been working. LOL, I think possibly the other "laborers," went to help role up tools in different areas =) I began to see how this was similar to our Christian life's. If you don't clean things up it's going to stop your progress!!! This fits in our work and spiritual lives. We can't avoid it, we need to learn to recognize and dispose of debris/discouragement quickly so you don't lose focus or your original task or ones calling is not delayed!!! Do you have debris/rubble in your life? It could be the trivial things that waste your time and energy and cause you not to accomplishing what God has called you to do. In Nehemiah it says there was debris and rubbish scattered so much that it got in the way of re-building the wall. Don't get frustrated!!! Have you noticed that every time you set out to do something that the debris/rubbish just starts pilling up!? Have you failed? We all are human. Let's learn from our mistakes and set new goals!!! Don't quit!!! Don't blame others!!! Don't complain that this is too much, or it's all impossible!!! Refocus on Gods intentions, your task, and start moving!!! =) Finish the race!!! Don't fear or get discouraged. Nehemiah 4 suggests the people affected by fear and discouragement are those who hang with negative people... "God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7) If you're going to control the negative thoughts in your life, you've got to put all your trust and faith in this God who loves you and is concerned with every facet of your life, and (your calling), your task, and it could help to be extremely cautious when hanging around negative people. But remember: look up, don't blame others and the choice is ultimately ours!!! Maybe you're discouraged? What you're going through - does it seem like the task is too great or it's too much responsibility? Maybe it's that you feel you don't deserve it, or it's the fear of criticism. Fear like discouragement will destroy your life if you let it. But you can choose to resist the discouragement by standing firmly on His word and trust and have faith that His word stands true in every facet of your life!!! Believe and say: God help me get my mind of me and my discouragement - circumstances, help me keep my eyes fixed on You!!! GBU... & Live HIM Loud... Bart