I've Been Thinking...: ... About Discouragement

Photo taken by Lela Hartranft

The other day I became discouraged. While I was paying some bills I noticed that someone had committed fraud in my name maxing out one of my credit cards. I spend hours trying to work through all the issues that were created by the perpetrator’s act. I was annoyed that I had to deal with the incident and was using up time when I could have been doing something else.

I believe Satan wants us to get discouraged. He certainly doesn’t want us to be doing what God wants us to do. Consider this - In my post …about Encouraging Thoughts for Today – Trusting God I wrote that I make little cards from photos I have taken and give them to people I encounter when I am out-and-about. Here is what happened the other day - One of the local stores I shop at from time to time gives out coupons for $5 off for purchases totally $25 or more when purchased on a certain day. So I decided to take advantage and went to the store on the designated day. I handed the clerk the coupon before he began ringing up the items. When I arrived home and checked my receipt I noticed the $5 had not been deducted from the total cost of the items. Later in the day I returned to the store and waited in line to see the cashier. A gentleman ahead of me noticed the mask I was wearing and he commented about it. I told him I had taken the photo and made the mask. I told him I also made lots of little cards from photos I take. I took one out of my purse and handed it to him. He thanked me, read it, and put it in his pocket. But then I noticed as he waited while the clerk was ringing up his items he had taken the card out of his pocket and was reading it again. I could have gotten annoyed and discouraged about having to go back to the store to get the $5 discount or not even gone back to the store. Instead a gentleman had been encouraged by a little act of kindness. What if I would have gotten my $5 discount earlier in the day or what if I had not made my mask?

copy of mask made by Lela Hartranft

Now two more people have been added to my prayer list, the perpetrator and the gentleman in the store. I pray that somehow they will come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Of course Satan does not want me giving out my cards and praying for other. I overcame my discouragement and my heart is filled will joy! Have you been discouraged lately? Consider the words (especially "We should never be discouraged") of the hymn What a Friend We Have in Jesus (below.)