Have you been waiting for something for a long time? Or
at least it feels like a long time? Have your prayers remained unanswered, or so it seems? Are you growing weary of it all, wishing something would change? Then you are not alone.

Many of us are feeling this weariness in the waiting. It’s been a long, hard past few years, and it only seems to get worse. Maybe we aren’t all waiting for the same thing. Some may be waiting for a physical healing and relief from constant pain. Some may be waiting for a relationship or marriage to be healed. Some may be waiting for God’s promises to them to be fulfilled. Some may be waiting for financial break through.

We may be waiting for different things, but one thing we have in common is that we have grown weary in the waiting. We are just plain tired of the way things are and there’s nothing we can do on our own to change them. Discouragement has set in and our emotions are doing flip-flops up and down. Joy and hope are hard to come by these days.

So where can we find joy and hope when we’ve lost them? Recently I found myself asking God these same questions, pouring out my lament of discouragement to Him. I know the right answers to tell others how to climb out of the pit of discouragement, but for some reason it wasn’t working for me this time.

My God was so faithful to answer me in my time of need. He gently reminded me of things
I already know, but in my weariness had forgotten. True joy, peace, hope, love can only be found in a relationship with the Lord, never in our circumstances. He said that even if everything in my life was perfect, exactly the way I would like it to be, that would not guarantee I would feel joyful and hopeful. We need to stop looking outward to find joy and hope. What we find in the world is short-lived and cannot give the lasting joy we hope for.

We open the door to discouragement when we look too long at our circumstances rather than looking at God’s faithfulness. Our circumstances tell us that nothing will ever change. We give in to doubt and unbelief, start grumbling and complaining, and stop trusting that God’s ways and plans are best and His timing is perfect.

Discouragement is a subtle enemy with the ability to stop
us from moving forward. If we’re truly tired of being weary in the waiting and want to get out of this rut of discouragement, it’s time to repent of opening this door to the enemy and slam it shut again. It’s time to get our focus back on the Lord and trust Him to show us the way.

The Lord also gave me an assignment. Years ago I read
a life-changing book by Ann Voskamp, “One Thousand Gifts.” Her challenge was to start writing down every single thing you can find in a day to be thankful for.
I did it then and it changed my life. Now God said it’s time for me to have a shift in perspective and start writing down 1,000 things to be thankful for again.

By the second day, my whole attitude shifted and I am once again cultivating a thankful, joyful heart. My circumstances have not changed, but I’ve found joy and hope to see me through, and you can too.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with some- one, give us a call at 845-482- 5300.